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33 - Creativity in the Domain of Play

Product and Processes

from Part VI - Creativity in Everyday Life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2017

By
Sandra Russ  and
Claire Wallace
Edited by
James C. Kaufman ,
Vlad P. Glăveanu  and
John Baer
James C. Kaufman
Affiliation:
University of Connecticut
Vlad P. Glăveanu
Affiliation:
Universitetet i Bergen, Norway
John Baer
Affiliation:
Rider University, New Jersey
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Summary

Abstract

Pretend play is both a creative product and a reflection of creative processes. Pretend play is unique in that it is an open-ended activity that the child must begin from scratch; it is self-reinforcing, in that it is fun; it reflects many processes important in creativity and involves practice with those processes; it is a vehicle that can be tailored to the talents and interests of the child; it includes processes important in different domains of creativity; it is universal, it involves the whole child; and it is a safe space for the child to express themselves without being judged. Because so many processes important in creativity occur in pretend play, measures of play can indicate creative potential in children. Key studies in the area of pretend play and creativity are reviewed and suggestions for future research are offered.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity across Domains , pp. 602 - 615
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2017

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