08 March 2024 , 00:01
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Girls as young as five are feeling the pressure to be perfect, which stops them from trying new things. A whopping 74% of girls aged between 5 and 12 said they don't try things if they're scared they won't do them perfectly.
The LEGO group asked parents and kids in 36 countries, including 1,000 British mums and dads and their under 12s. They found that a huge 89% of British girls feel they have to be perfect and 79% said when grown-ups use the word 'perfect' it makes them feel bad.
The study shows that the words we use every day can stop girls from expressing themselves. In fact, 76% of UK girls aged 5-12 say that the words they hear make them worry about making mistakes, so they don't want to try new things. Parents agreed that girls are more likely to be pushed towards being perfect than boys, with 78% thinking this was true. And words used to describe girls' creative work were often 'sweet', 'pretty' 'beautiful' or 'cute', while boys' efforts were more likely to be called 'brave', 'cool', 'innovative' or 'genius'.
The LEGO group got TV star linguist Susie Dent and Harvard-trained parenting researcher Jennifer B Wallace to look at how language can affect confidence and how to help unlock creative potential in young girls. A short film called 'More than Perfect' shows how girls can achieve more when they're encouraged to play for fun and stimulation, not just aiming for perfection.
Ms Wallace said: "When children fear failing, it can hamper their willingness to explore and think outside the box. This impacts the key skill of creative confidence - which can carry into adulthood. Creative confidence is the self-assurance to generate ideas, take risks and contribute unique solutions without fear of failure. It's been found to be a cornerstone of well-being by boosting self-esteem, reducing stress, and increasing happiness, as well as a top-ranked skill for future workplaces according to the World Economic Forum. With over three quarters of girls aspiring to work in creative industries it underscores the urgent need for change."
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Susie, from Countdown, added: "The findings from LEGO Group confirm that the language we use towards children, and particularly young girls, can have an enormous impact. It's essential that we challenge our biases if we're to foster a society where girls can fully explore their creative potential. Every girl and woman deserves the freedom to explore her creativity without fear or pressure. The good news is that, by changing our language, we can be instrumental in changing the future."
Nine out of ten mums and dads believe that playtime helps their kids express themselves, boosts their confidence to try new things, builds creative confidence and provides a safe space to explore and experiment without fear of failure. Playing with LEGO, whether it's free building or following instructions, helps develop essential skills that are equally important for all children in today's world. Through building and rebuilding, it becomes a foundation for creative confidence, courage, and self-belief.
To keep championing what can be achieved when girls can play without limits, the LEGO Group has brought together Team Unstoppable 2024 in the UK - a group of bold, fearless women to inspire girls with their stories of overcoming the pressure to be perfect and what they have been able to achieve when they can play unstoppable. The team includes inspirational, fearless UK women - watch out for more this year.
LEGO Stores and LEGO.com are launching a series of fun, free creativity workshops for young creators aged 6-12. These workshops, which start this month, will focus on Entertainment, Space, Gaming, Dreams & Imaginations. Get tickets and more information here.
To help parents encourage their kids' creativity, LEGO has teamed up with parenting expert Jennifer Wallace to create a '10 Steps to Fostering Creative Confidence' guide. Plus, new content developed with Peppy Pals will be available on LEGO Life in April.