As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, a recent survey highlights a growing emphasis among parents on fostering creativity in children. According to the findings, 73% of U.S. parents consider creativity an essential skill for their children to develop amid the rapid advancements in technology.
The survey, commissioned by Crayola and conducted by Talker Research, gathered responses from 2,000 parents and children aged 8 to 12 across the United States. It revealed notable differences between parents’ and children’s attitudes toward AI and creativity. While more than one-third of parents expressed concern that AI could diminish their child’s ability to think creatively, only about one-fifth of children shared this worry. Similarly, 30% of parents feared AI might limit their children's future employment opportunities by competing with them in the workforce, whereas the same concern was held by only 21% of the children surveyed.
Despite growing up in a digital environment, children showed a strong preference for hands-on creative activities. Nearly half of the children reported they tend to keep their handmade creations, and a majority said they like to display them at home or give them as gifts, giving their creativity a tangible and meaningful presence. The children also expressed a desire for adults to actively engage with their creative processes by asking for ideas, providing supplies, encouraging problem-solving, and allowing more time for creative activities.
The survey further underscored the importance of feedback focused on effort and decision-making rather than just aesthetic outcomes. Activities like creating alongside family members, displaying artwork, and recognizing the work involved were cited as highly motivating by children. Conversely, simple praise about how “good” the art looks was identified as less encouraging.
Cheri Sterman, senior director of education at Crayola, emphasized that nurturing creativity requires an intentional shift in focus toward effort and process, which helps children feel safer taking creative risks. The survey also found that many parents—eight in ten—regret not having received more encouragement to develop their own creativity in childhood.
Parents appear to view creativity as a critical element of future success in an AI-driven world, with 85% agreeing that creative skills give children an advantage. The respondents associated creativity with enhanced problem-solving abilities, stronger communication skills, and greater career success.
Experts suggest that rather than resisting technology, parents and educators should aim to integrate imagination, experimentation, and original thinking into daily routines. Initiatives encouraging simple creative moments—such as sketching during walks, rewriting story endings, inventing song lyrics, or turning errands into games—are being promoted as effective ways to build children’s creative confidence alongside technological progress.