A recent Atlantic article, The Anti-Social Century, got me thinking about something we don't talk about enough: our connection crisis and its impact on how kids think and create.
It’s easy to point fingers at COVID-19 for the breakdown in social interaction, but let’s be real—it started way before that.
Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation traces the problem back to 2010 when the smartphone was introduced. Many people claim that social media is the real problem. Whatever the culprit is, the fact remains: our kids are more digitally connected than ever but more socially disconnected than any generation before them—and that’s a big problem for creative and critical thinking.
Why Isolation Kills Deeper Thinking
Technology promises connection, yet kids are experiencing unprecedented levels of isolation. And this isn’t just about their social lives—it’s messing with their ability to think in fresh, deep ways.
We tend to romanticize the idea of the lone genius, locked away in a room, coming up with the next world-changing idea. But history tells a different story: breakthrough innovations almost always come from collaboration, discussion, and idea-sharing—not isolation.
This is what researchers call "social creativity." Big ideas don’t happen in a vacuum; they emerge from conversations, interactions, and bouncing ideas off one another.
Think about what happens in a lively classroom discussion.
One student shares an idea.
Another builds on it.
A third connects it to something totally unexpected.
Boom—a creative insight is born. This dynamic exchange is what fuels creativity and social change. It’s like improv theater for the brain—everyone’s input transforms what came before into something new.
The Brain Science Behind Social Creativity
Here’s where it gets even more remarkable: our brains are wired for social interaction.
Neuroscientists have found that when kids engage in face-to-face discussions, multiple brain regions light up at once—far more than when they work alone. Dr. Keith Sawyer, a leading creativity researcher, discovered that even seemingly solo creative acts—like drawing or problem-solving—are deeply shaped by social experiences, conversations, and interactions.
And yet, we now have a generation growing up in what's called the "connection paradox." They have infinite ways to "connect" (Instagram! TikTok!) but are missing the depth of real human interaction—the very thing that makes creative and critical thinking thrive.
Why Social Interaction Matters for Kids' Creative Development
When kids don’t engage in rich, in-person social experiences, they lose out on key ingredients that fuel creativity:
✅ Seeing problems from multiple perspectives.
✅ Building on others’ ideas.
✅ Getting immediate feedback to refine thoughts.
✅ Feeling safe enough to take intellectual risks.
✅ Being challenged by diverse viewpoints.
So, what can we do?
3 Simple Ways to Boost Social Creativity in Kids
1) Create "Tech-Free Zones" for Real Connection
Instead of just limiting screen time (cue the eye-rolls and door slams), let’s replace it with something better—high-quality, engaging social interactions:
Family dinner without devices (bonus: fewer crumbs in keyboards).
"Maker spaces" where kids can create together—no screens allowed.
Neighborhood playgroups focused on open-ended, creative activities.
The trick? Make it fun enough that they won’t have time to miss their phones.
2) Encourage Multi-Age Interactions
Mixed-age play is a secret creativity booster. Why?
Older kids learn to mentor.
Younger kids learn advanced skills faster.
Everyone benefits from different perspectives.
TRY! Pairing older and younger students as creative "buddies." Family projects that involve siblings of all ages. Community activities that mix different age groups.
3) Build Structured Social Learning into Daily Life
Make intentional space for meaningful conversations and teamwork:
Use "think-pair-share" to get kids bouncing ideas off each other.
Design collaborative problem-solving challenges.
Host "sharing circles" where kids present ideas and get feedback.
The goal? Normalize collaboration as a creativity superpower.
The Role of Adults: Model What You Want to See
As educators and parents, our job isn’t just to create opportunities for connection—it’s to model the kind of rich social interaction that fosters creativity.
That means:
Engaging in real conversations with kids, not just giving instructions.
Asking them why they think something—not just what they think.
Encouraging respectful debate (yes, even when it gets loud).
Creating a culture where wild ideas are celebrated, not shut down.
Moving Forward: Balancing Tech & Social Creativity
We’re not going to eliminate digital connection (nor should we—it has its place!). But we do need to rebalance the equation so kids get the face-to-face interactions their creative brains crave.
By intentionally fostering creative and critical thinking, we’re giving kids the tools to think more deeply, solve problems more effectively, and innovate in ways that truly matter.
As we journey through this "anti-social century," let's remember that our most valuable gift for our children isn't an overload of information, gadgets, or rigid schedules. It's the freedom to explore, the space to breathe, and the nurturing relationships that allow their creativity to truly thrive.
Let’s build a future where connection fuels curiosity and deeper thinking—one conversation at a time.
I'm Katie Trowbridge, and I am the author of this post. I am also the president and CEO of Curiosity 2 Create, which is a nonprofit organization that offers professional development and coaching for educators and administrators.
We use what we call the CREATE Method, which is an ESSA Level 4 Backed method that reduces chronic absenteeism, improves student engagement, and increases student academic performance using our CREATE Method model. Schedule a call here to learn more about how Curiosity 2 Create and the CREATE Method can help you and your school today.
Resources:
Belcher, J., & Williams, M. (2022). "Social creativity in educational environments: A meta-analysis." Journal of Educational Psychology, 45(3), 278-295.
Thompson, D. (2025, January 8). The Anti-Social century. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/
Perry-Smith, J. E., & Shalley, C. E. (2003). The Social Side of Creativity: A Static and Dynamic Social Network Perspective. The Academy of Management Review, 28(1), 89–106. https://doi.org/10.2307/30040691
Sawyer, R. K. (2022). "Group creativity: Musical performance and collaboration." Psychology of Music, 34(2), 148-165.
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