---
title: "Creativity Tests Show Adults Outperform Children"
url: https://newscentral.site/creativity-tests-show-adults-outperform-children/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Science"
published: 2026-10-22T12:16:04.000Z
updated: 2026-10-22T18:42:49.386Z
id: de9c2bde-bb25-4fce-94a2-f956268279d6
source: "New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/2595359-adults-may-be-more-creative-than-children-but-less-confident-about-it/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=home&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/creativity-tests-show-adults-outperform-children/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Creativity Tests Show Adults Outperform Children

A new study suggests that adults are more creative than children in certain tasks, despite the common notion that children are naturally more innovative.

A long-held notion that children are more creative than adults may be turned on its head by a new study suggesting just the opposite.

Researchers found that while children performed poorly in creativity tests, they were incredibly confident about their abilities. In contrast, adult participants showed higher levels of creativity but struggled with self-assurance.

The study's lead researcher, Mathias Benedek from the University of Graz in Austria, suggests that this disparity may stem from a widespread misconception that children are naturally more creative due to their increased opportunities for artistic expression and play.

In the creativity task, adults were found to produce more innovative ideas for using a tin can, scoring 9 points higher on average than children. This was observed in various scenarios, including one adult who suggested repurposing the tin as a "Halloween candy box when on a diet". In contrast, some children imagined using it as a rattle.

The disparity between adults and children's creativity may be attributed to their differing levels of prior experience. According to Wendy Ross from King's College London, creativity involves combining ideas from past experiences, which adults are likely more proficient in due to their broader exposure to the world. This is reflected in their ability to draw on a wider range of knowledge when creating fantasy animals.

The research also involved training five objective judges to evaluate creativity based on originality and task fulfillment. These judges were not connected to the study and were tasked with assessing the creative output of both adults and children, providing an unbiased measure of their respective levels of innovation.

The study found that children reported lower anxiety levels compared to adults when engaging in creative tasks, which might suggest they are more at ease with expressing themselves freely.

Ross points out that this could be seen as a positive aspect of childhood creativity, allowing individuals to enjoy the process without worrying about external judgments. However, Benedek notes that adults may have benefited from the specific instructions given for the animal-drawing task, potentially reducing their anxiety related to being judged on their ideas.

The study's findings suggest that engaging in creative activities can have a positive impact on mental wellbeing, particularly when done with others. This can lead to reduced mental health problems and improved social skills, highlighting the importance of incorporating creativity into one's life for overall benefit.

---
Source: [New Scientist](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2595359-adults-may-be-more-creative-than-children-but-less-confident-about-it/?utm_campaign=RSS|NSNS&utm_content=home&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=NSNS)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/creativity-tests-show-adults-outperform-children/