Promoting Creativity Across the Life Span

Creativity is a major driving force for human beings, urging us to try things a new way, see things differently, and imagine what might be. This book explores what is known about creativity and what we can do to promote it at all stages of people's lives -- from preschoolers through senior citizens. The authors, all social scientists and many of them artists in their own right, cover a variety of perspectives, from programs aimed at creativity in children, to long-term research projects, to a new theory of women's creativity. This subject has implications not only for child welfare and the possible application of creative activities to help at-risk children and families, but also for society as a whole. Each chapter challenges readers to creatively reshape their lives in more positive ways.