How to Build Creative Confidence in Kids

Kids are creative, every moment of the day… in the way they draw, the way they experiment with language, the way they interact with objects, the way they imagine new worlds. At IDEO we believe that creative confidence — believing in your ability to create change and having the courage to act on it — is something all of us are born with.

But as David and Tom Kelley write in the book Creative Confidence, too often people lose this innate ability as they grow. Perhaps they get a “creativity scar” when somebody tells them they aren’t a good artist or they’re doing things the wrong way. They become fearful of what other people think. They play it safe. And the safe answer is rarely the most creative or innovative one. Read more