| Children have such wonderful imaginations, and I'm | | | | appeal: the fairy is small - childlike - but with a |
| convinced that one our jobs as parents is to | | | | wondrous ability to improve the world, often with |
| nurture and encourage this spirit of adventure and | | | | just a wave of a wand, and even to fly! It's easy |
| optimism. | | | | to understand the value for a child to feel more |
| One of my fondest early memories from early | | | | influential than she often sees herself to be. As |
| childhood was riding the "elevator" at my | | | | well, knights embody similar images of power and |
| grandmother's house. I grew up in a lovely, but | | | | morality, coupled with the lore of popular culture |
| very small town, which of course had no real | | | | and captivating dragon-slaying tales. Colourful and |
| elevators at all, so it just seemed so very exotic | | | | flamboyant, they empower our little boys to |
| to my 6-year-old mind. Of course it was actually | | | | imagine themselves as the powerful protectors |
| only a closet with a sliding door, but it became, | | | | we urge our men to become. |
| for a few beautiful years, everything my | | | | Your child may dream of being a fairy or a knight, |
| imagination needed it to be. Oh, the places that | | | | but don't stop there. Add to your collection with |
| elevator went! | | | | that outdated party dress, cut down to a |
| So it was no surprise to me when my own | | | | non-dangerous length, hats, shoes, jewelry or any |
| children spent countless hours making 'forts' in the | | | | other bits you can think of. Search out thrift |
| living room. On days with a different theme, | | | | shops, rummage sales, yard sales, and relatives |
| blankets draped over chairs, sofas, and coffee | | | | closets. If it seems gaudy to you, it will be an |
| tables provided the framework for a zoo for | | | | immediate hit! Be prepared to take that highly |
| hordes of wild animals and lots of roaring, or an | | | | decorated creature along with you to the grocery |
| underwater world with mermaids and dolphins, | | | | store, the park or wherever your day takes you. |
| even a house with dolls and stuffed animals. The | | | | Sometimes, the child might choose to stay small |
| basic structure, be it elevator, fort or zoo can | | | | and quiet in other social situations, will emerge |
| take a child anywhere. | | | | confident when wearing a tiara. Give them the |
| Your child needs at least one special outfit for | | | | opportunity to explore their alter-ego. You may |
| dress-up play. For little girls, fairies have great | | | | be surprised! |