Childhood pretend play ignites creativity by engaging both cognitive and emotional processes, unlocking memories and imaginative fantasies that seed adult ingenuity. Research details playful interventions, novel scales measuring affect, and case studies that illustrate a robust link between early play and later creative success.
Evidence suggests that pretend play in childhood has an important role in providing a foundation for adult creativity. Indeed, many of the processes central to creativity occur in pretend play. In this book, Sandra W. Russ reviews the theory and research on pretend play and creativity, including cognitive and affective processes involved in play and creativity, possible evolutionary purposes of play, and its cultural variations.
