How the cost-of-living crisis is harming children’s creativity at home

It is well documented that the government’s defunding of arts subjects over the past decade is stymying the creative development of young children in the UK. We wanted to gauge how inflationary pressures and tightening household budgets are impacting primary school age children’s creativity at home. 

We commissioned research with Impact Sense, surveying 1,000 nationally representative parents with children aged 5-11 years old. 

The survey found that over half, 52%, of parents in the UK earning the national average income, and 47% of parents overall, think that the cost-of-living has had a negative impact on their child/children’s creativity at home.

The majority of parents (57%) have taken their children to fewer attractions that encourage creativity since the cost-of-living hit the UK, and 47% have bought fewer materials for their children to be creative at home since the cost-of-living hit the UK. Meanwhile, 74% of parents wish they had more disposable income to support their child/children’s involvement in creative activities, according to the survey.

If we don’t act now, there will be devastating implications for our sector, as the current skills shortage in the creative industries is set to get even worse. 

Click here to read the full report and find out how businesses in the creative sector can help parents support and encourage their children’s creative development.