The various chapters of this volume emphasize different periods of development. There is an argument for the creativity of children, another for adolescence, and another for adulthood. Continuities and discontinuities across the life span are described, as are numerous developmental issues, such as the role of knowledge and experience, and the relationships between creativity, play, and deviance. Why development and creativity? One reason is that developmental issues cut across many other topics in studies of creativity. The biological underpinnings of creativity, for example, probably exert their influence in different ways at different points in development, and the cognitive and emotional mechanisms of creative thinking vary in different chronological stages. Even more obvious are the educational implications of developmental theories of creativity. The conclusion to this volume suggests that we must understand the development of creativity or we will not really understand creativity itself. This is the 72nd issue of the journal series "New Directions for Child Development.

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