D. W. Winnicott has summarized all his insights on the topic of "transitional object" in this book. This refers to that often inconspicuous toy of the toddler, which helps ease the transition from waking to sleeping; it can be a teddy bear or even a corner of a pillow. The transitional object serves as the connection between the child's inner and outer world. Engaging with it is a precursor to play, and play, in turn, is the first step towards the development of what is called creativity. Thus, the cultural, creative, and inventive abilities of humans are ultimately closely linked to that small, fetish-like object from their childhood.