How do you encourage creative play in older children? Is it important? If so, why?

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It's occured to me that, apart from Lego, ds (aged 10), does very little and looking back, he has never done alot and I don't know how this has hampered his development. He now plays with warhammer, is there anything else we can do at home though so I we can have fun? I was thinking of doing a play with him?? I need some ideas as I'm stuck.

TIA

could he make a den in the garden? a teepee or other type of dwelling? If he is a bit of a rule follower, you could look up ideas on the internet one day, and plan what you'e going to do, and how to make it - turn it into a bit of a project and learning about other cultures if you think that part is important too?

Our garden is on the small but overgrown side. I like the ideas of looking at other cultures, we could pretend to be eskimo's and go fishing for our lunch That's a fab idea, thankyou.

Could he have something like a Bearded Dragon, or an iguana? Not too hard to look after, don't need much room and no fur to be allergic to.

We don't really have pet shops that sell these where we live, I wouldn't know where to start. Don't they eat insects? I get grief off him when I squat a fly, he must be a secret buddist or something.
bearded dragon would go down well though.