Raw Parenting Podcast Newsletter - March 2026
Are Schools Slowly Killing Creativity?
Dear Parents,
Here’s a thought that stopped us in our tracks recently.
In the 1960s, NASA created a test to measure creative intelligence.
When adults took the test, only 2% qualified as “creative geniuses.”
But when researchers tested young children who had not yet gone through school, something surprising happened.
98% of them scored at genius levels for creativity.
That means nearly every child starts life with extraordinary creative potential.
So the question becomes uncomfortable:
What happens to that creativity as kids grow up?
The Problem We’re Starting to Notice
As parents, we’ve been paying close attention to where the world is headed.
AI is moving fast.
Technology is reshaping jobs.
Entire industries are changing almost overnight.
But schools?
They change slowly.
Curriculum updates can take years to approve and implement. Meanwhile, the world outside is evolving month by month.
So we started asking ourselves:
Are our kids being prepared for the world they’re actually going to live in?
School Builds One Type of Intelligence
School is very good at developing academic intelligence.
Reading.
Writing.
Memorization.
Test performance.
Those things matter.
But there’s another kind of intelligence that often gets pushed aside:
Creative intelligence.
The ability to imagine new ideas.
Solve problems in unexpected ways.
Think independently.
And those may be the exact skills the future demands most.
The World Is Changing Faster Than Education
Look around today and it’s clear something big is happening.
- AI tools are doing work that used to require entire teams.
- Robots are becoming more advanced every year.
- Online businesses are allowing young people to build careers without traditional degrees.
Many teenagers today are starting companies, building audiences, and creating income streams before they even finish school.
That doesn’t mean school is useless.
But it does raise a serious question:
Is the traditional path still the only path?
The Socialization Argument
Whenever parents talk about homeschooling or alternative education, the first question always comes up:
“But what about socialization?”
Let’s think about that for a second.
Socialization isn’t just being in a room with other kids.
It’s learning:
- communication
- conflict resolution
- emotional regulation
- critical thinking
- confidence
And if we’re honest, a lot of kids aren’t actually being taught those skills in school.
Sometimes they’re just figuring it out on their own, often through bullying, peer pressure, and social stress.
That doesn’t necessarily mean school is bad.
But it does mean the idea of “socialization” might be more complicated than we think.
The Classroom Reality
Teachers today face an almost impossible job.
Imagine trying to support 30 kids at once emotionally, academically, and socially.
Most teachers want to help every child think deeply and ask questions.
But when a classroom is that full, something else usually takes priority:
Managing behavior.
Understanding comes second.
That’s not a failure of teachers.
It’s a limitation of the system.
When Busyness Gets Confused With Learning
Another thing we’ve noticed is how packed school schedules are.
Kids move from subject to subject all day long:
Math.
Social studies.
Science.
English.
Homework.
But sometimes being busy isn’t the same thing as learning.
Memorizing information doesn’t always mean understanding it.
And understanding something doesn’t always mean knowing how to apply it in real life.
So What Can Parents Actually Do?
We can’t control the entire education system.
But we can control what happens at home.
Here are a few things we focus on with our own kids:
Encourage creativity
Give them art supplies, paper, crafts, and space to invent their own stories and ideas.
Ask questions
Instead of answering everything for them, we often ask:
“What do you think?”
That simple question teaches independent thinking.
Use everyday moments as lessons
Even a grocery trip can turn into learning:
- comparing prices
- counting items
- reading labels
Real life is full of opportunities to build critical thinking.
Let kids explore
Sometimes the best thing we can do is step back and let kids figure things out on their own.
That’s where creativity grows.
The Real Goal
At the end of the day, we’re not trying to fight the school system.
We’re trying to prepare our kids for a future that is still unfolding.
One thing we’re confident about is this:
Creativity, curiosity, and independent thinking will always matter.
Those are human traits that machines can’t easily replace.
And the more we nurture them in our kids, the better chance they’ll have to thrive in whatever future arrives.
Join the Conversation!
We’d love to hear from you! “What is one thing you wish school had actually taught you growing up?” Hit reply and let us know, or join the conversation on our latest post.
Reading with your little ones is such a special bonding experience. Let’s make sure the books we choose bring joy, learning, and positivity into their lives!
With love,
Tom & Malorie
The Raw Parenting Podcast
P.S. Want more real talk on parenting? Check out our latest podcast episode for a deep dive into this topic! 🎙️
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P.S.: “Growing as parents through deep, real conversations to raise better kids.”
See you next month!
