Creativity must start from a young age

American psychologist George Land discovered this when he tested the creativity of 1,600 children in the 1960s and 70s. At age five, a whopping 98 percent of the children displayed genius levels of creativity. But when that same group was tested at age ten, only 30 percent could be considered creative geniuses. At fifteen years old, that percentage dropped to 12.

The sad truth behind these fascinating finds is that education tends to discourage creative thinking. Our schooling focuses on analytical thinking, following a logical order to reach a single, correct answer. Studies have also revealed that teachers consider creative personality traits like questioning, disagreeing, or veering off-topic as disruptive to the classroom.

Outside of the classroom, society also has some misguided ideas about creativity. And this can prevent many people from exploring their own ideas.

A lot of us are told that only artists, experts, and brainiacs can be creative. Or that creative ideas emerge in unpredictable “a-ha moments.” None of this is true. Anyone can be creative, regardless of what they do. And it’s possible to prime our minds so that those “a-ha moments” come regularly. Unlearning these myths and others like them helps to unlock creativity. Which is what anyone who wants a place in the workforce of the future has to do.

Here’s some good news: creativity is becoming increasingly important in the workplace. In a 2012 survey of 5,000 adults across five countries, research firm StrategyOne found that eight in ten people think creativity is essential to economic growth. And in 2019, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report rated creativity as the third most valuable human skill, jumping ten places since 2015.

Whether our creativity was discouraged at school or out in society, we can reclaim it and start using it at work or embed it purposefully when teaching our children. At Brilibrain Edu we provide ample opportunities for our young learners to exercise their creative genius to prepare them for the future.