Innovation: Why Kids are Less Creative

I would like you to replace ‘child’, ‘kid’, ‘student’ with ‘manager’, ‘co-worker’, ‘leader’, or ’employee’ in the following quotes …

… and think about what you would change immediately in your own working environment to become creative and innovative (again)?

“Since 1990, children have become less able to produce unique and unusual ideas. They are also less humorous, less imaginative and less able to elaborate on ideas.” …

“You can do well on a test by studying a lot, but it won’t encourage original thinking.” …

“If we just focus on just No Child Left Behind — testing, testing, testing — then how can creative students survive?” …

“After all, ideas in childhood may lead to future career pursuits.”

“If this trend continues then students who look different, nonconformists, will suffer, because they are not accepted,” Kim said. Research shows that if creative personalities don’t adjust to the school system, they can become underachievers and drop out of school” …

Kids also nurture their creativity abilities when they “pretend,” … Elements of insight, fantasy and emotional expression all go into this type of story-making, Russ said. Nowadays, with kids‘ overbooked schedules, there is less time for pretend play. …

“Teachers don’t spend a lot of time exploring unexpected ideas because they might not be sure where it will lead, … “out-of-the-box” thinking gets discouraged. … not blaming teachers, who may even feel as though they cannot teach creativity.

But teaching to prepare for tests and teaching to develop creativity are not mutually exclusive, Beghetto said. Teachers should recognize that unexpected answers may still lead to meaningful conversation and learning in a classroom.”

Via Are Today’s Youth Less Creative & Imaginative?