Chapter 13: Play, Creativity, and Socioemotional Development: Weaving the Threads of Influence

Adult creative experiences have origins in the play and emotional processes of childhood (Moore & Russ, 2008; Russ, 1999; Sternberg, Grigorenko, & Singer, 2004). As Russ concludes from her extensive work on affect and creativity, children experience strong emotions as they work through conflict. It is through play that children learn to master these strong emotions and conflict. One of the most important developmental tasks in early childhood is to learn to regulate these intense emotions. Creative play can provide natural outlets for children to explore both positive and negative emotions. Play and fantasy are vehicles to express emotion (Fuchs, Kumar, & Porter, 2007; Moore & Russ, 2008; Russ, 2004; Singer & Singer, 2005), and pretend play can provide a safe haven for aggressive thought (Russ & Schafer, 2006). Additionally, research examining the intersection of creativity, play, and socioemotional development is important for gaining insight into these early play processes and how they might facilitate or diminish later creative work Nicolopoulou, Barbosa de Sá, Ilgaz, & Brockmeyer, 2010). The cognitive aspects of creativity can include divergent thinking and problem solving, whereas emotional processes include expressions of emotion and emotional themes in play activities.