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Creativity for life: Why it matters more than you think
- Sharyh Murray
- Jun 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 18
There is a myth we’re currently working very hard to dismantle, which is that creativity is only accessible to people who are “good” at it. We say it's a myth, because creativity isn’t a one-size fits all quality or personality trait. Simply put, creativity is the ability to produce ideas that are innovative and original. It's an ability that can manifest in many ways (like through writing, singing, painting or cooking), but it's also an ability that most people can develop and nurture with time and attention.
In today’s blog we’re exploring how to nurture your creativity, plus why practicing creativity from childhood right through to adulthood can help with cognitive, emotional, and even physical development.
Something I hear a lot from beginners at our events and workshops is, “I’m not very good at art and creativity”. I usually remind them, “Everyone has creative abilities, and there’s no right or wrong way to express yourself through art!” This fear of "not being good" at art and creativity often seems to stem from a misunderstanding of what creativity really is. While there are methods for mixing colours and applying certain artistic techniques, the way we choose to express our thoughts, feelings and ideas is entirely personal. There's no right or wrong way to do it.
More than art, creativity opens doors to opportunity
Depending on the type of creative practice you engage in, for example music, talent may play a role. However, creativity in and of itself goes beyond specific creative practices. It's a cognitive process and a very important transferable life-skill. It's one that most people can nurture with the right amount of time, resources and opportunities. Researchers even say that, “In societies which have individuals who have high levels of creativity and who can use creative thinking effectively, the level of welfare increases and the opportunities for people depending on their interests and talents are equally higher.” (Yildirim Y, Yilmaz 2023)
Simply put, creativity matters more than we might think.
Childhood development and creative practice
In early childhood, creativity plays a very important role in development. We’ll talk more about the specific developmental benefits further along, but first I want to share a quick story a client (in the education sector) shared with me. She was a teacher in Early Years Childcare. We’ll call her Jess for confidentiality.
After our bespoke art workshop, Jess shared a story about a child she had previously childminded, who once drew a peculiar picture of a cat chasing a mouse. The drawing was full of great big shapes, marks and lots of zig zag lines. Jess mentioned that to an adult, the zigzags and mark making might have looked like meaningless scribbles, but having read a book by John Matthews on 'Helping Children to Draw and Paint in Early Childhood', she was keen to learn the meaning behind the mark making. Sure enough, the child explained the zigzags were their interpretation of the mouse running around. Those zigzags actually represented movement. Fascinating!
I loved hearing this story as it gave a real life example of how children understand and interpret the world around them. And how, through drawing, they can express those thoughts, ideas and feelings in innovative ways.
Creativity supports cognitive, emotional, and overall Development
When children participate in activities that spark creative thinking, like art, this can boost their overall development:
Emotional development (expression) Painting can provide a safe space for children to express emotions they may not yet have words for.
Physical development (motor skills) Using a paintbrush can help develop a child’s motor skills. Motor skills are the movements your body makes to perform specific tasks, involving the coordination of muscles, nerves, and the brain.
Cognitive development (problem solving) Painting can help children learn problem solving and critical thinking as they decide how to build, balance and recognise patterns.
Self-confidence As mentioned earlier, there is no “right” or “wrong” outcome with painting, so this allows children to learn to experiment and develop their own ideas freely.
These benefits aren't just for children, they hold value in adult life too. We’ll explore this further along.
Unlocking focus and self-regulation through creativity (ADHD)
Because of its cognitive and emotional benefits, practicing creativity through activities like art can be great for helping with focus and self-regulation. Ten years ago I worked as a SEND Teaching Assistant at a Secondary school in Tower Hamlets, where I supported a year 8 pupil with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For the sake of confidentiality, let’s name him Arty.
Arty was often distracted in lessons and would cope by writing on tables, dismantling pens, playing with the ink and then getting into trouble for disruptive behavior once the ink had gotten everywhere. Arty wasn’t trying to be disruptive, but he was struggling with restlessness and self-regulation. To support him with this, I started bringing post-it notes to every lesson and whenever I’d notice Arty's attention waning, I’d slide him a few post-its and encourage doodling. This was effective on many levels. Not only would Arty begin paying more attention (while drawing), he also exhibited less of the impulsive behavior that got him into trouble.
One of the reasons doodling was so effective for Arty was because of the cognitive and emotional benefits of practicing art (in the form of doodling). Doodling while learning engages multiple areas of the brain such as:
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) which is responsible for planning, attention, decision-making and self-regulation.
Motor Cortex and Cerebellum , supporting movement coordination and fine motor control.
Default Mode Network (DMN) which helps with creative thinking through daydreaming, mind-wandering, internal thought.
The simultaneous activation of these brain areas can help those specifically with ADHD. Further research shows that doodling can “increase concentration in children with ADHD in the memory aspect, attitude aspect and skill aspect” (Mahardika, Bagus & Putra, Andi: 2023).
Today, we find that our bespoke art workshops offer the same type of cognitive emotional support for our participants, especially those with neurodivergent needs, such as ADHD and Autism.
"This session was transformative for my learners who are studying childcare and early years courses. The learners were so engrossed in creating and welcoming the calm and satisfying environment created." - Corine
Creativity and overall development in adult life
Earlier we talked about how the developmental benefits of creativity aren't just for children, they hold value in adult life too. As adults, engaging in creativity can help improve cognitive and emotional benefits like:
Problem-solving and creative thinking
Memory and focus
Adaptability/mental flexibility
Mindfulness, emotional expression and self- confidence
Improved communication
and more.
Which benefit of creativity do you value most in adulthood?
0%Stress relief
0%Problem-solving
0%Self-expression
0%Confidence-building
"I enjoyed how it [the Bespoke Art Workshop] encouraged creative freedom and expression" - Daisy
Practical ways to nurture creativity in everyday Life
There are plenty ways to keep your creativity tank topped up. For example:
Dedicating time once a week to a hobby that encourages creative thinking. Like, cooking, painting, gardening.
Engaging in problem-solving games and activities like rock climbing.
Jotting down, doodling or mind-mapping creative ideas regularly in an idea journal.
Attending art workshops and programmes.
By making space for creativity, we're not just encouraging artistic expression. We're supporting lifelong growth, connection and wellbeing. Let's plan your meaningful art experience today.
References
Mahardika, Bagus & Putra, Andi. (2023). Art Therapy through Doodle Art Media in Increasing Learning Concentration Children with ADHD. Journal of Childhood Development. 3. 121-129. 10.25217/jcd.v3i2.3939.
Yildirim Y, Yilmaz Y. Promoting creativity in early childhood education. PLoS One. 2023 Dec 6;18(12):e0294915. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294915. PMID: 38055715; PMCID: PMC10699610.
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