The Role of Technology in Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Children

Children today have unique access to incredible tools. Tablets in most classrooms, VR, 3D printers, cloud-based digital technology. The list goes on and on. And while the proliferation of this technology makes many uneasy, there is no denying that it provides today’s youth with unique opportunities, both for education and for creativity. In this article, we take a look at how technology can be used to foster innovation and creativity in children. We also look at how you can help your child use technology responsibly. Making the Impossible Possible One of the nice things about digital technology is that it makes things that never could have happened before accessible to the average person. Using a cell phone and basic editing software — often pre-installed on said cell phone, children can shoot and edit their own films. They can create graphics, images, and even basic video games — all with programs that are available either for free or at a low cost. In other words, it gives kids a vibrant canvas that, until very recently, simply hasn’t existed. Of course, it’s what kids do with that canvas that makes all the difference. Below, we highlight a few specific creative avenues that kids can explore with basic, highly accessible digital technology. Photography A simple but enjoyable one. Everything has a camera on it these days. Good ones at that. Children can take advantage of this by learning photography as a skill. There is always the camera app on your cell phone or tablet, but there are also applications that allow you to take a more in-depth look at photography, allowing children to explore advanced features of the craft including exposure, and even touch-ups and editing. It's a rewarding experience that can even grow into a potential career path if the interest is there. Art Much professional art is done on tablets these days. While the startup cost can be somewhat prohibitive — several hundred dollars on the low end — the comparative expense may actually turn out to be significantly less than that of traditional art supplies. One drawing tablet and stylus can last for years, while physical supplies are exhausted after each new project. Your library or school system may even have drawing tablets that are available to borrow for free. Visual Storytelling Digital technology also makes it easier to engage in the art of visual storytelling. There are many apps available to help children make digital graphics, slide shows, comic books, etc. These tools can help children put together highly creative school projects, or just provide them with a fun, innovative outlet for their free time. Like so many of the other tools on this list, the skills that your children learn through these experiences can also translate well on a resume eventually. Visual storytelling is a valuable marketing and sales skill that employers continue to show great interest in. Programming Coding requires a unique blend of logic and creativity. It’s a valuable skill that is best learned at a young age. A significant number of coders are self-taught, demonstrating that with the right dedication, it can be learned on the home front without formal instruction. If you are interested in getting your child involved in the unique world of code, there are many beginner programs and applications that can help teach them the basics. Not only is this a fun creative outlet, but it could be a bankable one down the line. Programming is one of the fastest-growing and highest-paying career paths in existence. Now is the perfect time for a child to learn the ins and outs of this highly sought-after skill. A Double-edged Sword? We can’t talk about the positives of technology and creativity without at least reflecting on the reverse. While digital tech can serve as a creative outlet for children, it can also be an enormous distraction. There are multiple reasons why this is the case. One of them is that the human mind is naturally inclined to place very little priority on information that comes to them from a screen. Scientists don’t quite know why this is but it’s been consistently observed for decades now. When people are given information on a screen, they almost always skim it, retaining little of what they read afterward. The other issue isn’t so hard to guess at. There are many distractions online. Many professional creatives specifically opt for spaces that have limited access to digital technology for that exact reason. Neil Gaiman writes his first drafts in pen to avoid the distractions of the internet. George R.R. Martin owns a small house across the street from his primary residence that lacks WIFI so he can write in peace. And these are gentlemen who grew up without YouTube and social media. Today’s children live a considerable portion of their lives online, making it even more difficult to separate play from productive time. There are ways around this. For one thing, most smart devices feature advanced parental controls that allow you to limit how and when children use their devices. If you want to set aside an hour in the afternoon to let your children draw on their tablets, or experiment with coding, you should be able to use the parental controls to block out distractions. It’s also a good idea to look for creative opportunities that are entirely separate from digital technology. Have them write. Read. Paint. Go outside. There are many ways to explore creativity and innovation for children. Digital technology is one route, but don’t let it be the only one.