Even in the simple exercises for the development of the senses you
have been continuously required to draw upon the child's imagination.
Most children are blessed with a vivid, active imagination and use it
continuously in their play and self-entertainment. The reason that this
wonderful faculty is so useless to the average adult is largely caused
by a misunderstanding of the faculty on the part of the parent and
perhaps the teacher.
=Imagination is the reproduction, in mental images, of those
sensations which have previously been experienced.=
Most children use both reproductive and the productive imagination
easily. There is, however, considerable difference in the amount of use
and benefit which they derive from it.
=Reproductive imagination is reproducing the literal copy of the
sensations.=
=Productive imagination is the forming of a new image made up of
elements from previous images.=
There is natural individuality in imagination and a difference in
method and in inclination to use the faculty. Some children reproduce
vivid images which are to them real and impressive and by the use of
which they amuse themselves for hours. Others reproduce indistinct
images which have no attractiveness, are dim, uncertain, and of little
value or consequence.
Do not expect the imagination of two children necessarily to operate
in the same way, and above all, do not insist upon the same results.
If you wish to know what the difference is in this faculty of visual
reproduction you can use some definite test, such as the one following.