How to Encourage Your Child's Imagination—Even Without Books

Why Imagination Matters—Especially When Reading Feels Like a Struggle

You're not alone. If your child is between 6 and 12 and seems disinterested in books—or struggles with reading, homework, or school stress—it can be incredibly disheartening. You know their mind is full of potential, but their creative spark feels dimmed by frustration, screen fatigue, or simply a lack of interest in traditional reading. So where does that leave imagination?

Imagination is not only born in books. In fact, it thrives in unexpected places: car rides, bathtime, mealtime, or even while getting ready for school. It’s less about having the perfect material and more about nurturing a mindset. The question becomes not "How do I get my child to read more?" but rather, "How can I help them connect with stories—even without a book in hand?"

Letting Stories Take Shape in Daily Life

Think back to when your child was younger and made up elaborate explanations for the rain, or turned the couch into a spaceship. That instinct for story is still there—it may just need a little dusting off.

Consider weaving stories into your routines. On the walk to school, ask, "What if the birds were spies watching us? What would their mission be today?" During dinner, imagine, "If our broccoli had thoughts, what would it say about being eaten?" These aren’t forced creative exercises. They're laugh-filled moments that shift imagination from a task into a game.

This kind of playful thinking aligns perfectly with creative car ride storytelling—a strategy many families find helpful to spark imaginative conversations in motion, without needing a single screen or page.

What If Your Child Really Doesn’t Like Reading?

It’s hard watching your child hesitate around books, especially in a world where reading is so highly valued. But imagination doesn’t only live in written text—it also lives in spoken word, sound, and play.

For kids who don’t gravitate toward books, audio stories can open a door they didn't know was closed. When reading feels like work, listening offers a no-pressure alternative. They still experience character development, plot arcs, and vivid imagery—just through a different channel.

Apps like LISN Kids, available on iOS and Android, are designed with this in mind, offering original audio stories and series for kids aged 3–12. With a wide range of genres and voices, it gives children access to an imaginative world—no reading required. Some stories are just a few minutes long, perfect for short attention spans or winding down at bedtime.

This can be especially powerful if your child is finding it hard to engage with school reading materials or is feeling demotivated by challenges in understanding text.

For more guidance, check out our full article on helping reluctant readers fall in love with stories in other ways.

Bringing Imagination into Screen-Free Activities

When devices are off limits or causing tension, finding screen-free fun can feel like reinventing the wheel. But imagination is the best tool you already have at home—it just needs some space to breathe.

Crafts, pretend games, building forts, drawing with no instructions—these are classic and for good reason. They allow a child to invent their own worlds rather than consume ones already created for them.

You might encourage your child to create their own "radio play" using their toys as voice actors, or draw the cover of a book they've imagined but haven't written (yet). You're not asking them to produce homework. You're asking them to play differently.

If you need more inspiration, this guide on creative screen-free activities can help get the ball rolling on imaginative play without screens or pressure.

Imagination as a Tool for Stress Relief

When children feel overwhelmed by school, pressure, or failure, their imagination can seem frozen. But reintroducing narrative and make-believe can also be calming—it gives them agency in a world that often feels out of their control.

Try reframing stressful bedtime routines by letting your child create a relaxing story before sleep. Even narrate daily struggles with a superhero twist: "You're the Homework Hero today. What’s your plan to defeat the Report Monster?" This kind of gentle storytelling can help soothe their fears and reframe daily challenges with a touch of magic.

Need more bedtime-specific advice? Our article on calming your child's energy before bedtime offers additional ideas for using imagination as a winding-down ritual.

It’s Not About the Format—It’s About the Feeling

In the end, your child doesn’t need to be an eager reader to be an imaginative thinker. Whether it’s through drawing, storytelling, audio, or play, the goal isn’t to make them love books for books’ sake. The goal is to help them stay connected to wonder, curiosity, and the joy of "what if?"

By gently shifting how your family talks, listens, and plays, you’re already doing it. You’re showing your child that stories can exist anywhere—even in a broccoli’s inner monologue.