Parents and Children
Learning Together
We strongly encourage parents and carers to participate in ImaginationGYM® sessions alongside their children. Children love doing things with their parents — and the research explains exactly why this makes such a profound difference.
Get StartedVygotsky and the Zone of Proximal Development
Lev Vygotsky, one of the most influential educational psychologists of the twentieth century, proposed the concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) — the space between what a child can do alone and what they can do with support from a more experienced other.
The ZPD is where the most significant learning happens. When a child works within the ZPD — supported by a parent, teacher, or more capable peer — they can achieve things that are beyond their independent capability. Over time, what was achieved with support becomes achievable independently, and the ZPD expands.
ImaginationGYM® is designed with Vygotsky's insight firmly in mind. When a parent participates in the imagination session, they occupy the role of the "more knowledgeable other" — not by directing the child's imagination, but by modelling engagement, creating a safe shared imaginative space, and being present as a supportive, non-evaluative companion in the experience.
"What a child can do in cooperation today he can do alone tomorrow."
Lev Vygotsky — Zone of Proximal Development
What Adult Participation Looks Like
Participating alongside your child does not mean guiding or directing their imagination. It means being present, engaged, and modelling the kind of open, curious attention that makes the methodology work.
Listen with Your Child
Sit or lie together in a comfortable space and listen to the audio adventure at the same time. You do not need to do anything except listen — let the guide take you both into the imaginative world.
Use Your Own Activity Book
If you have your own Activity Book, complete it alongside your child after listening. Adults often find the activities surprisingly engaging — and children love knowing their parent is also creating their own imaginary world.
Respect Each Other's Stories
Do not compare or evaluate. Each person's imaginative experience is entirely their own and entirely valid. After the session, share only if you both wish to — never pressure anyone to disclose what they imagined.
Talk About It Naturally
If your child wants to tell you about their story, listen with genuine interest and without judgement. Ask open questions: "What was that like?" rather than "Why did you choose that?" Let them lead.
Make It a Ritual
The sessions you remember most as a family will be the ones done regularly, at the same time, in the same comfortable space. Ritual creates anticipation — and anticipation is a form of joy.
Bring Your Own Inner Life
ImaginationGYM® is genuinely enjoyable for adults too. Bring your own imagination to it. You may find that the relaxation and creative engagement is something you value for yourself, not just for your child.
Listening Together as Family Time
Listening to an audio programme together is a different kind of shared experience from watching television or playing a game. It is quieter, more inward, more intimate. Each person is having their own private experience — but they are having it together, in the same space and at the same time.
This combination of togetherness and inner privacy creates a unique quality of connection. Families who do ImaginationGYM® together often describe a sense of warmth and closeness in the session that is different from other activities. The experience is shared but not identical — which creates a natural, genuine interest in each other's inner world.
After the session, the child carries out activities in their Activity Book — giving the child engaged, purposeful quiet time and giving parents a natural moment of respite. This rhythm of shared listening followed by independent creative activity is one that many families come to treasure.
From Families Who Participate
"I didn't expect to enjoy it myself, but after the first session I was looking forward to it as much as my daughter. The Enchanted Forest is genuinely beautiful to experience."
"My son talked more about his inner world in the weeks after we started ImaginationGYM than he had in the previous two years. Just having a shared experience opened something up between us."
Adult Participation in Professional Contexts
In school and organisational settings, adult participation takes a different form — but the principle is the same. When teachers, SNAs, and care workers participate alongside children and clients, they model engagement, create a safe shared space, and gain valuable insight into the inner lives of those in their care.
Staff Relaxation
Step 12 of the 13-step workshop programme specifically provides staff relaxation — recognising that practitioner wellbeing matters, and that genuine participation enhances connection with clients.
Feedback Through Process
Step 13 provides valuable feedback on clients through the process — the wishes made, the stories created, and the creative outputs that emerge all offer insights that inform professional support.
Shared Experience
Step 10 involves shared experiences with staff — creating a culture of mutual engagement and respect that transforms the relationship between practitioners and those they support.
Start Your Family's ImaginationGYM® Journey
Every activity pack includes notes for parents explaining how to get the most from the sessions — and why your participation matters so much.