A fresh study has revealed how we recognise creativity in our kids - especially girls - here in New Zealand and across the ditch.
Turns out, girls aren't getting the same props for their creativity as boys, and it's got a lot to do with societal pressures and the way we talk.
The research found that a whopping 74% of Kiwi parents think girls are under more pressure to be ‘perfect’ compared to boys.
And it gets worse as they get older. While little girls aged 5-12 are bursting with confidence in their creativity (77%), that confidence flips on its head as they grow up. Apparently, by the time they're older, about 76% of girls are stressing about what others might think of their creative ideas - and that really does crush our hearts.
SOURCE: LEGO Group NZ
LEGO Group reckons it’s all down to the words we use around our kids while they’re youngins. Society seems to describe girls with words like "sweet," "pretty," "cute," and "beautiful," while using "brave," "cool," and "genius" for the boys.
SOURCE: LEGO Group NZ
So what's the big deal? Well, these findings show there’s some work to do.
LEGO NZ is collaborating with the CEO of GirlBoss NZ, Alexia Hilbertidou, and Co-Founder of Nanogirl Labs, Dr. Michelle Dickinson, to set up a workshop for two young Kiwi girls, promising some once-in-lifetime experiences to give their confidence a boost.
"As a Gen Z founder, I started my entrepreneurial journey at 16. I learnt that perfection wasn't the answer; it's about taking risks and backing yourself,” Alexia said. “I'm driven to empower other Gen Alpha and Gen Z girls to realise their strengths and embrace their limitless potential."
Dr. Michelle echoed this, saying: “The importance of creativity, curiosity and freedom to experiment - without fear of making a mistake - is fundamental to inspiring and empowering the STEM leaders of the future.”
LEGO also say there are simple improvements that can be made at home.
By prioritising equality among the youngins in your life and ensuring there’s equal opportunity for their creative juices to flow, you might just notice a change in the kiddos' imaginations.
Why not give it a red hot crack? After all, there’s nothing better than when the kids come to us with their brilliant ideas - I reckon some of theirs might just be better than ours!
