The Influence of Folklore on Children’s Creativity

Abstract

This study examines the role of traditional folklore in shaping children’s creativity, focusing on Uzbek and English-speaking traditions. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes nursery rhymes, invocations, ritualistic practices, and material creativity to explore how children engage with and adapt folkloric material. The findings highlight folklore’s dual function as a repository of cultural knowledge and a platform for innovation, enabling children to reinterpret traditional elements in imaginative ways. Thematic parallels, such as reverence for nature and symbolic animals, demonstrate folklore’s universal appeal, while cultural-specific adaptations reflect localized creativity. The study underscores the importance of folklore in fostering cultural continuity, social bonding, and the imaginative potential of childhood.