Q. My child has a very active imagination and I don’t know what to do about it.

A. Do about it? Why not help your child to hone that brain-function ability and use it appropriately? Imagination can be critically important in learning to problem-solve effectively. It can bridge the conscious and subconscious minds and is associated with intuition, brainstorming, and creativity.

Studies have shown some gender differences. The generalized female brain, with prefrontal cortex differences and more integrated hemispheric functions, tends to excel at imagining future outcomes in innovative ways. Regardless of gender, the ability to apply an active imagination to a variety of settings can be invaluable.