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3 - Pretend Play

A Microcosm of Creativity

from Part I - Core Concepts of Lifespan Creativity Development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 November 2021

By
Sandra W. Russ
Edited by
Sandra W. Russ ,
Jessica D. Hoffmann  and
James C. Kaufman
Sandra W. Russ
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University, Ohio
Jessica D. Hoffmann
Affiliation:
Yale University, Connecticut
James C. Kaufman
Affiliation:
University of Connecticut
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Summary

Pretend play is indeed a microcosm of creative processes. With pretend play, we can observe the fundamental components of creativity. Pretend play is one arena in which we can identify the basic essentials of the creative process and learn about the development of the interaction of these processes. Pretend play is the expression of self-generated thought that includes divergent thinking, object substitution, symbolism, fantasy, affect themes, and narrative development. In play, children switch back and forth between spontaneous idea generation and the more controlled logic of the narrative. This chapter reviews the theories of play and creativity, and the correlational, longitudinal, and experimental research literature. The development of creative processes in play is discussed. Pretend play can be used as a measure of creativity. Suggestions for future investigation are offered.

Keywords

pretend playaffect in playplay interventiontelehealth approach
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Lifespan Development of Creativity , pp. 40 - 55
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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