The Creativity Mindset

I know lots of parents are heading into the summer holidays feeling excited... and perhaps just a little overwhelmed too.

For a long time I felt as though I had to fill every day with activities. Somewhere along the way I realised that wasn't really what my daughter needed or in fact wanted.

Sometimes the best days are the slower ones.

A walk. Time outside. Staying in pyjamas a bit longer than usual. Drawing. Playing. Letting children get a little bored and seeing where their imagination takes them.

I've put together a free Summer Creative Reset with a collection of simple creative prompts that families can dip into over the holidays.

There are no complicated materials, no right answers and no expectation of perfect artwork.

It's simply a chance to pause, create and enjoy a little quieter time together. Or perhaps to give you ten minutes to enjoy a hot cup of tea while your child is happily creating.

You can download it free using this link - https://thecreativitymindset.com/summer-creativity

I hope it brings a few calmer moments to your summer.

I'll also be running a children's creative session at Fleur de Lys, Lowsonford, towards the end of the holidays. Tickets will be on sale soon.

I have been thinking about the word “disengaged”.

We hear it a lot in relation to young people, but I wonder whether it sometimes closes the conversation down too quickly?

What if some young people are not disengaged, but under-engaged?

What if they need more space to be curious, to ask questions, to try things out, to make mistakes without everything feeling like a test?

I think this matters in families, schools and workplaces.

Because whether we are talking about children, teenagers or adults, people do not usually do their best thinking when they feel under pressure, judged or rushed.

They need the right conditions.

Space to think, to connect and to build confidence through practice.

At The Creativity Mindset, I call this Thinking Space.

It is one of the reasons I use creative activity in my work. Not because everyone needs to become more artistic, but because creativity gives us a different way in.

It helps us pause, notice, talk, wonder and respond with a little more openness.

I believe that can be where better thinking begins.

Stress is something all of us experience at different points in life or work.

That is why I believe creativity should be part of the conversation. Not as performance, and not because anyone needs to be artistic, but because creative activity can offer a practical way to slow down, reset and create a little breathing space when pressure builds.

For , please try to think about how you slow down, reset and think more clearly. Could you use something creative to do more of this?

We often treat rest as something we have earned.

But biologically, it works the other way around.

The brain needs periods of lower stimulation to consolidate information, regulate stress responses and restore cognitive capacity. Without that, thinking becomes slower, reactions become sharper, and decision-making quality drops.

After a long weekend, the question isn’t how quickly we can get back to full speed.

It’s whether we’ve created enough space to actually recover.

Sustainable performance depends on it. Happy Easter if you're celebrating.