Pretending doesn't require expensive toys.

That may play a role in creativity and imagination.

When a person reaches the end of a book and says, 'I want to read that again,' what he's actually saying is that he wants to mentally merge with his favorite character and stroll among all the other creative personalities, feeding a hungry imagination through the vicarious reliving of each and every wild chapter that stirred his emotions, the whole while surrendering to a safe yet daring existence where any crazy, hopeful thing can and does happen. That's all.

Counterterrorism Analysis and Collection: The Requirement for Imagination and Creativity.

Imagination follows me in the sofa, bed, the rain, sun and in a word tempest.

Idea comes from senses, but imagination goes beyond. Those who could impel idea with imagination have the best chance to be creative.