This blog piece was written by Hazel O'Keeffe, our TY Student who joined us for her work experience this month.
We asked Hazel to write a blog piece about Why creativity is Important, in particular for young people. Thank you Hazel for your excellent work.

For children and teenagers, creativity isn’t just about making things — it’s about discovering how they think, how they feel, and who they are. When people hear the word “creativity,” they often think of specifics, like painting or crafts, but it really means much more than that.
Creativity is a way for young people to explore ideas, solve problems, and express themselves in ways that words sometimes can’t.
In my opinion, one of the biggest benefits of being creative as a youth is how you can express your emotions. Being young is such an emotional rollercoaster and often, young people find it difficult to explain how they feel. But through music, art, writing, or one of so many other ways, they can show it instead.
Another important part of creativity is the confidence it builds. When a young person takes an idea from their head and turns it into something real, there’s a real sense of pride that comes with that. It shows them that their ideas matter and that they are capable of creating something from nothing. This helps them trust their own thinking and become more independent instead of always looking for the “right” answer from someone else.
Creativity can also be a great way to slow down in a world that is full of distractions. With phones and social media, it can be hard for young people to focus on one thing for a long time. Creative activities like drawing, designing, writing, or crafting require patience and concentration. They give young people a break from scrolling and help them learn how to focus their attention for longer periods of time.
Overall, encouraging creativity in children and teenagers isn’t just about giving them something fun to do. It helps them understand themselves better, handle their emotions, think more openly, and build confidence. The skills they gain from being creative can stay with them for the rest of their lives and help them in many different situations, both now and in the future.