Where has the wonder gone?

Image by Vilius Kukanauskas from Pixabay

A Childhood Full of Magic

From a very young age, I had a vivid imagination. I would dream up fairies and dragons—who were always good and powerful—and I would imagine grand scenarios where I was the one saving the Earth and all the creatures on it.

If I wasn’t lost in daydreams, I was lost in books. Enid Blyton was my hero. I devoured every single book of hers and imagined myself at Malory Towers or Saint Clare’s, or climbing the Magic Faraway Tree to meet Moonface and Silky. Those books were more than just stories—they were entire worlds I could step into, filled with magic, mischief, and wonder.

From Dreamer to Writer and Teacher

Today, I’m living my dream—I’m a published writer. And I also have the absolute joy of teaching creative writing to children.

More than anything, I want them to experience that same sense of wonder that books gave me. I want them to fall in love with words. I want them to ask, “What if?” and then follow that question into a world of their own making.

A Story of Their Own

Along with my regular Grammar & Creative Writing course, I also run a special summer batch just for Story Writing. I look forward to these classes. There’s something truly magical about seeing the awe—and the pride—on a child’s face when they realise they’ve written a story of their own.

It’s that moment—that spark—that makes all the effort worthwhile.

The Challenge: A World That Doesn’t Read

But getting them to write is not always easy. One of the biggest challenges I face is getting children to read.

It’s a sad truth that reading has taken a backseat in today’s world. Whether it’s because of packed schedules or too much screen time, books are no longer the first choice for entertainment.

When Imagination Takes a Back Seat

And because they don’t read as much, their imagination doesn’t get the nourishment it needs.

They’re not exploring worlds where animals talk, clouds carry messages, and a cupboard can lead to another realm. I’m not counting video games here—most of those are built around the same plot: destroy or be destroyed. They don’t leave much room for gentle wonder or slow, meaningful discovery.

“But That’s Not Possible!”

When I ask my students to create a fantasy world, there’s always at least one or two who frown and say, “But that’s not possible.”

And I have to gently nudge them into the land of “What if?” Sometimes we start with realistic fiction—it helps them imagine a situation they can relate to—and slowly, we stretch those imagination muscles.

Where Are the Dreamers?

Still, it saddens me a little. Where are all the fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson? Where are the dreamers who believed in magic and heroes and alternate worlds?

Were the millennials the last generation to truly give wings to their imagination?

Or… is there still hope?

Yes, There Is Hope

I believe there is.

I believe we can bring the magic back. By reading with our children. By writing books that light up their minds. By giving them the time and space to tell their own stories.

Because when children read, they dream.
When they write, they create.
And in that creation, they find their own voice.

Let’s Bring Back the Wonder

So I write. I teach. I read to them and with them. I remind them—and sometimes their parents—that imagination is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.

And maybe, just maybe, we can bring the wonder back—one story at a time.

P.S. If you want to know more about my Creative Writing courses do message me on +91 7400498082 or visit my website https://know-and-grow.com/