Grading jail is my garden today. Training and supporting students continues, even in the wake of cancelled grants.

When someone brings this sign to your student's dissertation defense, you know it's going to be a good time.

At least it's spring on campus.

Being in the line of research I'm in, people send me lots of Santa related stuff. I do appreciate that even my photo memories pop up relevant and funny information from time to time! @candicemmills.bsky.social remember this?

So excited to share my episode of "Fueling Creativity in Education" is now live! What a fun conversation with Cyndi Burnett, Ed.D and Matthew Worwood all about theatre education, imagination, and creativity!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3dVp...
Podbean: www.podbean.com/media/share/...

Well that's absolutely a new thrill! Went to the campus library to get a book this morning and LOOK WHAT WAS ON THE SAME SHELF!!!! Hey there, gorgeous. If anyone else out there sees my book in the wild, I would LOVE a picture.

'twas the night before SRCD submissions were due, and all through the house, students were making changes and I was correcting them back and then I sent this to all of them because sometimes you just have to red line something that you already red lined before.

Save the date- Nov 6, @APADivision10 and @tsfnc are hosting an online, open, Fall Creativity Symposium, including sessions on measuring the impact of creative arts on health; careers in creativity research & humor & creativity. Info here: www.tsfnc.org/2025-fall-cr...

Still time to sign up for TOMORROW'S (Sept 19th) live Q&A, 2:30p eastern time, hosted by Broadway Education Alliance, all about "Why Theatre Education Matters!" stagenotes.org/broadway-edu...

Registration now open! Broadway Education Alliance and stagenotes.org is hosting a short discussion and Q&A on September 19th about "Why Theatre Education Matters" - anyone can sign up to attend:
stagenotes.org/broadway-edu...

A great time speaking at Imagination Stage's Industry & Education night & seeing their adorable production of "Miss Nelson is Missing!" Highly recommended for all the kids (and kids at heart) in your life. Super fun book release week continues! More info here: www.thaliagoldstein.com/why-theatre-...

Today's blog in celebration of ONE MONTH until release of "Why Theatre Education Matters": a brief discussion of the 4 kinds of activities that organize space, time, and student attention, found across 40+ acting classes. thaliagoldstein.com/post/the-act...

Not perfect, because I have a lot of "Editor's Introduction to the XXX Issue" since 2017, but this is fun! Acting! Development! Children! Education! Arts!

Curious about the Psychology of Santa Claus (i.e. how we understand him, not his mental state)? Come to our free online workshop! Researchers, interested students, and elves of all kinds welcome. Talks, Q&As, open discussion abt future work.
Register: durhamuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Also- go as a troll doll and call yourself "Moe", but ask about what is a kangaroo, for all the classic pretending-as-if studies. Lillard, A. S. (1993). Young children's conceptualization of pretense: Action or mental representational state?. Child development, 64(2), 372-386.

Find some slippers that look like trucks. Go as Scale Error! www.science.org/doi/full/10....

I'm not teaching my Psych of Creativity class this year- but my student is, and it's almost midterm time. She just told me-- This year I'm going to miss out on presentations about the creativity of Banksy, Into the Spiderverse, and SPONGEBOB!?! No!

Hi all- let's see if this one sticks! I'm a developmental psychologist at George Mason University who focuses on children's imagination, pretend play, learning, and engagement in the arts, particularly theatre. My (recently updated) lab is here: playlab.gmu.edu. Looking forward to new conversations!