Are we unintentionally draining creativity from our children by placing so much emphasis on the “core subjects” like maths, literacy, and science? In our efforts to ensure academic success, could we be making it harder for children to take creative risks - fearing they might get it wrong?

In a world where screen time dominates, children may be spending more time consuming content than creating it. What impact might this have on their imagination and self-expression?

And what about us, the adults?
How would you rate your own ability to be creative?
When was the last time you tried something creative—just for the joy of it?
What does creativity actually look like in everyday life?

Let’s start with a definition:

Creative (adjective): Having the ability or power to create; characterised by originality, expressiveness, and inventiveness. Often associated with producing artistic work, solving problems in novel ways, or generating innovative ideas.

Original. Expressive. Inventive.
Qualities we all have within us—but how often do we get the chance to access them? And how do we help our children access theirs?

Throughout June and July, Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education, is running Children’s Art Week—a celebration of art in all its forms. Art can be messy, joyful, strange, and beautiful. The beauty of it is that there’s no right or wrong. Yet many of us grow up believing that if we’re not “good at art,” we’re simply not creative. Could this misconception be what stops us from trying?

In therapeutic settings, we often notice how difficult it can be for children to make even the smallest mark. This hesitation can be rooted in emotional struggles—fear of failure, a sense of invisibility, low self-worth, or simply not knowing where to begin. And yet, when a child begins to find their voice, to blossom, it’s often most vividly seen in their artwork. The process becomes a window into their internal world, with their expressions reflecting deep emotional shifts.

Creativity - especially through art and art therapy - offers a powerful way to communicate without words. This can be essential when working with trauma. For many children, traumatic experiences occur before they have the words to express them, or those experiences are so prolonged that verbal communication shuts down as survival takes over. Art becomes a lifeline, a way to process what words cannot hold.

So, as we move through the summer, why not take a moment to explore ways to encourage creativity in the children around you? Visit the Engage website and discover how you might nurture their expression - not to get it right, but simply to create.

You might even rediscover a little creativity in yourself, too.

Download PDF here

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