Pretend play is a universal activity in early childhood, but how does it contribute to the child's intellectual and emotional growth?  Come and explore the cognitive processes at work during pretend play, and how it contributes to the young child's developing mind.  Participants will examine the roots of imagination, young children's perceptions of "real" and "pretend" in print and screen images, how pretend play contributes to social and moral development, and how to best support this uniquely human tool-imagination.  This session is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level early childhood professionals.