" The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but
imagination" ~ Albert Einstein
Did you ever stop and realize how important imagination is?
It really is mind boggling to try to comprehend all of the creative thoughts that have lead to the world we live in today. I was considering listing some examples but it is almost too much to think about!
I often talk and write very passionately about how incredibly important it is that young children have opportunities to play. The development of imagination and creative thought is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about play.
Creativity and imagination are higher level skills in the brain. It is
critical that we provide opportunities for all of our young children to develop these valuable skills. It is through experience and repetition that the brain learns and makes connections between neurons. It is only through play that children get the chance to develop these higher level brain skills. Activities like watching television, doing paper and pencil tasks, or flash cards do not offer the possibility to develop imagination. Offering varied activities for play and exploring with real objects, people, and nature gives the brain the ability to pretend and to gain knowledge about how things in the world work.
These types of experiences add to developing essential brain connections and contribute to the knowledge needed for the process of creativity.
Creative ideas occur when the brain is in a relaxed state. This allows us to open our mind to
combining what we already know with new information. Our brains are then able to generate new thoughts and ideas.
For further information on the importance of play in developing imagination and creativity read:
Thoughts on Imagination Deficit DisorderAll Work And No Play Makes For Troubling Trend In Early EducationLet the Children Play (Some More) 
