“Imagination Isn’t Just Play—It’s a Path to Protecting Your Kids

(I've tried to steer away from posting "All things Mom" articles on this site, but after something I witnessed yesterday while out grabbing some goods, I can't help but take the opportunity to share the lesson. And honestly, since the Mom-At-Arms brand has successfully expanded into instruction over the last few years, I may start posting more articles of the like in the near future so that I can better help my students. Don't fret, though! The snarky exposes and legislative goods will still happen, too!)

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Maybe it was because of my parents’ professions, but growing up, they often played the “What would you do?” game with my siblings and me.

“What would you do if a stranger came up to you?”

“What would you do if you saw a weapon sitting out at a friend’s house?”

“What would you do if you were caught in a fire?”

As kids, our answers were wildly imaginative:

“I’m gonna call on my Pegasus to come save me!”

(He-Man and She-Ra were big back then, and having winged horses were the ultimate dream and wishlist item.)

But as we got older, our answers of course matured. Whether we were right or wrong, my parents encouraged the conversation, corrected us when needed, and pushed us to think deeper:

“OK! What if your Pegasus gets stuck in a cloud and couldn’t save you in time, though? You should always have a backup plan—so what else would you do?”

Those conversations shaped how my siblings and I thought about safety. They taught us to plan, to think critically, and to stay calm under pressure.

A Missed Opportunity at the Dollar General

Fast forward to yesterday. I overheard a mom, a grandmother, and a little boy at the Dollar Store. He was maybe six or seven—not much younger than my own son, who was bebopping alongside me.

I don’t know what sparked it, but the little boy said:

"If a bad guy came in right now, I’d use my magic wand!”

(It was a giant ink pen with an alien head he’d picked up from the toy table. Y'all know the ones... the tables and bins they keep RIGHT THERE at the front door! Anywho... Marketing!!)

The mom immediately snapped:

“STOP! WE DON’T EVER TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS,” as she yanked the pen away.

Now, I’m not hating on her for taking the pen. As a fellow “Boy Mom,” I get it—there are only so many “magic wands” one child can accumulate. (And they do accumulate... sticks, rulers, pens, cardboard rolls…) But it hurt my heart for that little boy.

In his moment of being proactive (for his age)—his imagination kicking in—he was shut down. He looked so defeated. Sure, he was upset about losing the wand, but more than that, his instinct to protect his mom and grandma was condemned in that moment.

And we wonder why so many men these days are "Betas."

The grandmother, in support of the mother, chimed in: "There ain’t no bad guys in here, child! Hush that up!”

Why This ALL Matters

Here’s the thing: We shouldn’t make it a habit affirming our kids as superheroes—because superheroes don’t exist—but we should use those moments when their imaginations run wild to teach them. To build them up. To guide them toward what’s right and what to do in a real bad situation.

It wasn’t too long ago that my son WAS Spider-Man. He lived and breathed all things Spidey!

“I’m Spider-Man! And if a bad guy were in here hurting people, I’d get them with my spiderwebs!”

Then he’d crouch down and start doing the wrist flick with sound effects.

As a creative and somewhat of a big kid, myself, I never shut him down.

Instead, I redirected: "Hey Spider-Man! Rather than using up all your spiderwebs, I think I’m going to need you to help us find a way out of here. Do you know where the doors are so we can leave quickly and go find more help?”

That’s the key: Don’t silence their imagination—shape it.

Use those moments to teach real-world skills.

Bottom Line

Imagination is powerful. It’s how kids process the world. When they create their own “What if” moments, don’t dismiss them—lean into them. Those conversations can teach problem-solving, courage, and critical thinking.

As a personal safety instructor, I’ll say this: The best safety lesson starts with a simple question—“What would you do?”

And YES! You can start asking this at any age!

Quick Tips for Engaging Parents in Safety Talks

• Start small and make it fun: Use their favorite characters or scenarios: “What would Spider-Man do if the fire alarm went off?”

• Ask open-ended questions: Instead of yes/no, try: “What would you do if…?”

• Praise creativity, then guide: Say: “I love that idea! Now let’s think of another way that works in real life.”

• Turn errands into teachable moments: At the store: “If we needed to leave quickly, which door would you choose?”

• Repeat often: Safety skills stick through practice. Make it a game, not a lecture.