How to Guard Your Child’s Imagination Without Shutting It Down
From fairy tales to YouTube shorts to things whispered on the playground, our kids are navigating a world that sometimes blurs fantasy and reality. And as parents, we don’t want to squelch their wonder. But we do want to guide it.
That’s where the idea of protecting their imagination with guidance comes in.
Children Are Wonderfully Curious… and Incredibly Absorbent
Dr. Kathy Koch often reminds us that children are not miniature adults. Their brains are forming, and their identity is being shaped by every message they hear—whether through screens, stories, songs, or side comments. If a child is told “anything can be true,” that message settles deep in the imagination before it’s ever filtered through critical thinking.
That’s why how we engage matters. Our tone. Our timing. Our truthfulness.
When a child hears, “Boys can be moms,” and it’s presented as a simple fact, their mind doesn’t respond with a debate. It responds with curiosity. It starts to imagine. And it needs us not to panic, not to shame, but to gently, firmly guide.
Ask Questions That Help Kids Think
One of the best ways to engage a child’s imagination is with curious questions. Saying, “That’s not true,” is important, but leading a conversation is powerful, so start one by asking:
“What do you think it means to be a mom?”
“How do babies grow?”
“Why do you think God made us as boys and girls?”
These aren’t trick questions; they’re invitations. They allow your child to think through what they’ve heard and what they know. They draw your child into truth, not by force, but through relationship.
Teach Them to Love Truth and People
We don’t want to raise kids who are just right—we want to raise kids who are righteous. That means we help them hold both truth and compassion. Yes, we affirm that God made us male and female. But we also teach our kids to love those who may be confused or hurting.
We explain, “Our beliefs don’t make us better than others, but they do help us serve others better.” We root our children in Scripture and model Jesus's love to those who see the world differently.
Build an Imagination-Protecting Environment
Here’s the good news: imagination is not the enemy. In fact, it’s a gift from God. When we fill our homes with truth-filled stories, adventures that clearly show good and evil, and creative play that reinforces reality, we’re actually strengthening our kids’ ability to resist lies.
Let them paint, build, explore, and ask questions. Read them books that show brave boys and nurturing girls, not because they’re stereotypes, but because they reflect beautiful parts of God’s design.
And when those wild bedtime questions come, smile. You’re being invited into a moment that matters.
A Final Thought from Dr. Kathy
Dr. Kathy often says, “Children thrive when they know who they are, who they belong to, and why they matter.” When we guide their imaginations, we’re doing just that: we’re helping them shape a God-centered identity that will hold up against confusion and chaos.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to keep showing up. Keep the conversations going. Be their guide in the world of wonder, and point them to what is real, good, and true.
Parent Tip: 8 Great Smarts for Protecting Imagination
Here are a few ways to use your child’s smarts to guide their imagination:
Word Smart – Ask them to write a story where truth wins.
Logic Smart – Explore “what ifs” that help them evaluate cause and effect.
Picture Smart – Let them draw how God made people unique.
Music Smart – Sing songs that celebrate God’s design.
Body Smart – Role-play real-life situations with moral decision-making.
Nature Smart – Observe differences in God’s creation and relate them to truth.
People Smart – Discuss how others think and feel—and why truth matters.
Self Smart – Encourage journaling about what they believe and why.
You are your child’s first truth-teller and their imagination’s best guide. Let’s keep leading with love and living what we teach.