Why everyday creativity matters for mental health.
When you think of creativity, you might imagine artists with paintbrushes or musicians performing on stage. But creativity isn’t only about producing art — it’s about exploring new ideas, solving problems, expressing feelings, and seeing the world differently.
For children and young people, finding small ways to be creative each day can have a huge impact on their mental health and overall wellbeing. The same is also true for school staff.
The benefits of creativity for mental health and wellbeing in schools.
Encouraging creativity at school isn’t just fun — it plays a key role in supporting emotional health. Creative activities can help:
Reduce stress and anxiety: Focusing on creative tasks offers a mental break from worries.
Boost mood and confidence: Completing a creative project — even a tiny one — gives a sense of achievement.
Process emotions: Drawing, writing, or building can help pupils work through feelings that might be hard to talk about.
Improve problem-solving: Creative thinking helps pupils become more adaptable and resilient.
Creativity gives children safe ways to explore and express what’s going on inside, which is essential for mental health.
Simple ways to encourage creativity in schools.
You don’t need an art studio or a big budget to make creativity part of everyday school life. Here are some easy ideas:
Creative journals: Encourage pupils to doodle, write, or stick in pictures that reflect how they feel.
Imaginative challenges: Ask students to build something from recycled materials, or come up with the most unusual use for a common object.
Story circles: Each pupil adds a line to build a group story, sparking imagination and teamwork.
Mindful colouring: Simple art activities can calm busy minds and help with focus.
Music breaks: Playing or even just listening to music can lift mood and provide a creative reset.
Don’t forget staff wellbeing.
Teachers and support staff juggle a lot, often with little time to recharge. Finding moments for creativity — from decorating a classroom display to trying a new recipe — can be a small but powerful way to look after their own mental health.
How The Wellbeing Crew can help.
At The Wellbeing Crew, we understand how important creativity is for mental health. That’s why we build it into our pupil workshops and staff wellbeing sessions. Whether through art-based activities, mindfulness, or confidence-building games, we help schools support wellbeing in meaningful, practical ways.
If you’d like to explore how we can help your school nurture creativity and mental health, get in touch with our friendly team. We’d love to chat.
