The myth of creative vs logical kids?

Have you ever said something like, “My child’s creative, so they’re not really into maths!”, or “My child’s got a scientific brain, languages just aren’t their thing…”?

If so, you’re not alone. It’s a narrative I hear all the time and one I think we should start challenging.

I was that creative kid. I loved stories, art and all things language-based. Science? Numbers? Not for me, or so I thought. Fast forward a few years, and I ended up earning a Master’s degree in Neuroscience. It turns out, I had a brain for science all along. I just didn’t discover it until I’d shaken off the label.

That’s the point. Children surprise us - but we need to leave enough room for them to do so.

So often, what we label as ‘natural talent’ is actually just confidence. A child who finds times tables easy gets immediate rewards: they answer quickly, get praise, feel clever. This then feeds their ego. Success builds self-esteem and self-esteem fuels motivation. That cycle is powerful.

Compare that to a subject like English, where there isn’t always a single ‘right’ answer. It’s slower and more reflective. A child might write something brilliant, but without that quick validation, they doubt themselves. It doesn’t mean they’re not creative, it means that particular kind of learning doesn’t feed their confidence in the same way.

Confidence isn't innate, it's built. Different types of learning build (or bruise) it in different ways, especially at different stages of development.

What can you do?

1. Hold the Labels Lightly

Be careful of casual labels like, “She’s not a numbers person” or, “He’s not creative.” Your child is still forming their identity and they’re listening (more than you think). A lot of the time, they’ll grow into what they’re told they’re good at, or shrink away from what they’re told they’re not.

2. Focus on Process, Not Outcome

This is especially important in subjects that don’t deliver quick answers. Praise their effort, their thinking and their curiosity. Help them to see the value in how they’re approaching a task, not just whether they got it ‘right’.

3. Expose Them to Crossovers

There’s beauty in maths, logic in storytelling and structure in art. Let your child explore those crossovers. One area unlocks another.

4. Let Them Surprise You

This is perhaps the most difficult. Keep an open mind. Just because something hasn’t clicked yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t. Children are constantly evolving and, more often than not, they’ll grow into strengths you never expected.

Final Thought

So yes, maybe I’m biased. However, I’ve seen it so many times - the child who wasn’t ‘good’ at something, only to flourish once they were given a different approach, a bit more time and the freedom to try without pressure. Children sometimes just need a chance to surprise you.