227: Chatting about the Importance of Imagination with Jonna Laster

Nutshell Regatta illustrates a glorious afternoon of imaginative play with a sailing competition using nutshells for sailboats, mint leaves for sails, and twigs for passengers.  Studies have shown play is crucial for many areas of children’s development—from physical strength to cognitive and linguistic growth. One 2008 study found that play contributes greatly to physical health—using more calories than comparable organized physical activities. (Mackett & Paskins, 2008).    Laster wrote this book, in part, to honor her grandmother who taught her that imaginative play can happen anywhere: telling a story, acting out favorite scenes from movies or books, thinking up as many uses for a cup or a paperclip as you can, building a fort, sitting on a patch of grass or under a tree and looking as closely as you can.   Useful Links http://www.jonnalaster.com/ Grab Nutshell Regatta https://amzn.to/2Xj4xVS  { affiliate link}