Children crave hands-on creative experiences even as they embrace AI

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GROWS, MANY PARENTS SAY CREATIVITY MAY MATTER MORE THAN EVER.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICAN PARENTS AND KIDS FROM CRAYOLA FINDS NEARLY THREE IN FOUR PARENTS BELIEVE CREATIVITY WILL BE EVEN MORE ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR CHILDREN’S FUTURE THAN IT WAS FOR PAST GENERATIONS.

MANY PARENTS WORRY A-I COULD HURT CREATIVE THINKING, WHILE KIDS TEND TO BE FAR MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY COULD OFFER.

DESPITE GROWING UP DIGITAL-FIRST, MANY CHILDREN STILL SAY THEY VALUE HANDS-ON CREATIVE EXPERIENCES MOST.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, SUGGESTS FAMILIES SEE IMAGINATION, ORIGINAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING AS CRITICAL SKILLS IN THE AGE OF A-I.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? IS CREATIVITY BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American parents of kids aged 8 - 12 (and their kids) who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Crayola and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Dec. 19 and Dec. 23, 2025. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.