The role of foresight in the emergence of innovation

In the developmental and comparative literatures, innovation is generally defined as the capacity to generate novel problem-solutions. When conceived in this way, children demonstrate some competencies by the late preschool years and are increasingly capable from middle childhood onwards. Evidence of novel problem-solving is also seen in a variety of non-human animals. But when we instead consider innovation to be predicated on recognising the future utility of problem-solutions, the literature tells a different developmental and phylogenetic story. Here we review recent research examining innovation from both of these perspectives, emphasising that children at the end of the preschool years begin to construct basic tools with future needs in mind, and selectively retain and share useful tools by early middle childhood. By recognising future utility, current solutions can be transformed into innovations that can actively drive cultural change.