The Work of the Imagination
Understanding the role of imagination in child development
Format:Paperback
Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This insightful book explores how children's imaginative play significantly contributes to their cognitive and emotional growth, challenging traditional views.
In The Work of the Imagination, the author challenges the long-held belief that children's early fantasy life is merely primitive and disorganized. Instead, the book presents a compelling argument that children's imaginative capabilities are far more sophisticated and play a crucial role in their cognitive and emotional development. Through a series of insightful analyses, the author reveals how children engage with hypothetical and counterfactual scenarios, showcasing their ability to think creatively and critically from a young age.
The narrative delves into various aspects of imaginative play, illustrating how it fosters problem-solving skills, emotional resilience, and social understanding. By providing real-life examples and research findings, The Work of the Imagination offers a fresh perspective on the importance of nurturing children's imaginative capacities. The author emphasizes that imagination is not just a whimsical pastime but a vital component of healthy development that can influence a child's future learning and interpersonal relationships.
Ultimately, this book serves as a valuable resource for parents, educators, and anyone interested in child development. It encourages a reevaluation of how we perceive children's play and imagination, advocating for environments that support and stimulate creative thinking. The Work of the Imagination is a reminder that fostering imagination is essential for nurturing well-rounded individuals who can navigate the complexities of life with confidence and creativity.
"In a book as creative and inventive as his subject matter, Paul Harris leads us on an intriguing journey into the world of, and the work of, the imagination...he shows us how thoroughly the mundane, the imaginative, and the magical intermingle, in childhood and adulthood, to form the very nature of human cognition." Henry M. Wellman, University of Michigan.
"Paul Harris's intriguing and lucid book summarizes twenty years of empirical research." Alison Gopnik, Science, April 2001
"A fascinating, accessible and extremely well-researched introduction to how much evolutionary psychologists have learnt over the past few years about this unique ability." Infancia y Aprendizaje, vol 24(2), 2001.
"Ground-breaking...this book is quickly becoming required reading for all students of cognitive development and will have an important impact on the field". Social Development
"An extraordinarily comprehensive and informative book" Tamar Szabo Gendler, Mind, Vol. 3, Apr. 2002
"This is a highly interesting, nontechnical, easy to read book on children's imagination and related topics by one of Great Britain's most distinguished developmental psychologist." John H. Flavell. Department of Psychology, Stanford University.
"In a series of ingenious experiments, Paul Harris leads the reader to discoveries and conclusions which are quite extraordinary. The book [has] value and originality." Eugene Subbostsky, Lancaster University
"It is a great topic; some of the ideas and materials are very novel and should create a lot of interest. For example, the chapter and ideas on emotion and pretence, and the discussion of functional issues. The chapters are very smoothly and readably written - fascinating>" Judy Dunn, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London.
"The chapters read very smoothly and well. The writing is clear, there is lots of interesting experimental material and theoretical ideas, always well presented." Peter Carruthers, University of Sheffield.
ISBN: 9780631218869
Dimensions: 231mm x 155mm x 20mm
Weight: 372g
236 pages