I believe in make believe. I believe that the best toy a child can have is their imagination. I believe in playing in the woods, creating fantasy worlds, losing track of time and being a kid. But where have all the fairies gone?

Children sit inside on beautiful, warm, sunny summer days in their comfortable air conditioned living rooms and play Xbox. They don't build forts in the woods or fight imaginary dragons; they sit on their couches and blow up virtual buildings.

When I was a kid I lived in multiple dimensions. I built "log cabins" in my neighbor's backyard and made "stew" out of dandelions and grass. I was a Native American princess fighting off cowboys on a horse. My friends and I used to spend hours exploring less than an acre of woods across the street from my house. We read "Bridge To Terabithis"and thought we could talk to trees.

Why are video games more appealing to kids than playing outside and spending actual time with their friends? Pretending seems to be something that is pre-programmed into children's minds, yet none of them want to use it. In the winter, a lot of kids would rather stay inside than play in the snow. Growing up, whenever there was any snow on the ground, you can bet I'd be playing outside with my neighbors.

I believe that our childhood is the best time of our lives, yet so many kids are eager to grow up and stay inside to sit at computers. If they only knew what adults would give to play in the creek all day and build fortresses in the trees. So, if you know a kid stuck inside with his or her xBox, get them outside because believing in make believe can change a child's world.