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Self-perceived creativity and curiosity in middle childhood
Marina Bazhydai1, Didar Karadağ1
1Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Acta Psychologica
|June 3, 2026
Summary
Children engaged in creative activities report higher curiosity and creativity. This study explored creative pursuits in British children aged 10-11, finding a strong link between creative engagement and cognitive measures.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Cognitive Development
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Creativity and curiosity are valued but difficult to quantify.
- Limited research exists on children's perceptions of creativity in daily life.
- Existing studies on creativity and curiosity links are scarce and varied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate children's perceptions of their creative activities.
- To explore the relationship between creative pursuits, curiosity, and creativity.
- To identify gender differences in creative activity domains.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 163 British children (aged 10-11) with open-ended questions on creative pursuits.
- Administered self-report measures for curiosity and creativity to a subset (N=73).
- Categorized open-ended responses into nine domain-focused categories.
Main Results:
- Creative activities were reported by 53% of children, who scored higher on curiosity and creativity measures.
- Children's self-reported creativity and curiosity were highly positively correlated.
- Girls reported more craft, visual art, and scientific design; boys reported more digital, creative writing, imagination, sport, and DIY.
Conclusions:
- Engaging in creative activities is linked to higher levels of curiosity and creativity in children.
- Creative pursuits span various domains, with some gender-based differences observed.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuanced relationship between curiosity and creativity in middle childhood.
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