Back in 2011, Kyung Hee Kim (a researcher at the College of William & Mary), discovered that since 1990 creativity has dropped significantly in the United States after years of steady rising.  It seems to reflect the national educational goals of focusing on curriculum standards (which includes teaching to pass tests) instead of helping children become more creative.  Even kids in kindergarten are more focused on learning standardized material.  This has a profound affect on the future of the country.

CEO’s across the spectrum has stated that the primary skill of future leaders is creativity.  If this is so, then our country is doomed.  Once creativity is lost, it’s hard to get back.  It can be done, it’s just that each person has to take the kind of action to make it happen.  We surely need to stop the way our educational system delivers information and start letting our kids, well, be kids again.  That means… LET THEM PLAY!

Conformity has killed ideas!  Our educational system has killed creativity!  Without creative thinking, there are no new ideas.  And without new ideas, progress stops.  And so does an economy.

I say to all adults out there, stop conforming, get out and play like a kid to unleash your creativity.  And if you’re a parent, let your kids engage more into play.  Let them make a mess.  I remember when Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture), talked about growing up in an environment where his parents let him really get creative.  That included painting his walls and more.  That is what we all need!

Get a set of finger paints and a large roll of paper and then go at it.  Have fun!  Unleash your inner child into play.  Your mind will start to open up again to the possibilities in life.  New ideas will start popping out all over the place.  Also, start challenging yourself more.  Explore.  Do things that you would not normally do.  Heck, if you’ve never sang in public, then do it.  Dance more.  Play a musical instrument.  Write. Draw. Play!

Just do it!

Bob (playing all the time)