THE IMAGINATION
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.