To anyone who says, "I'm not creative," I say, "Yes you ARE. Really you ARE...And I'm not just trying to be nice."
- Creativity is the ability to come up with something new and useful.
- It's not just about "the arts." Some arts education stifles creativity.
- It's not about copying a picture, a song, a dance or a play.
- It's not about being told what to do.
- Creativity is about having an idea, improving something or solving a problem.
- It is part of human nature, normal brain functioning and a healthy existence.
- It's not just parceled out to some. We are all creative beings.
- Children do not learn to be creative - they were born that way.
- Most learn to ignore the creative part of themselves while in schools that aim to put information into heads rather than encourage students to access what's already there. Our educational system was designed for an increasingly outdated industrial model that relied on people who would conform, follow rules and follow a linear path of education and vocation.
- Researchers who try to measure creativity report that since 1990 creativity scores in the US have started to decline, most notably in Kindergartners through 6th graders. The ability to generate new ideas starts to decline around 4th-5th grade.
- Our rapidly changing world is relying on people who know how to think creatively and use their unique abilities and interests to come up with useful ideas.
- Education in our country needs to be transformed (urgently) so that children can thrive and learn to use their strengths rather than have them shut down.
- One of the best ways to promote creativity in children (and adults) is to simply get out of the way. Give them time to think and be. If you do, they will astound you. They might even teach you something about yourself.