What if your child’s strange little drawing of a cow was actually more powerful than you thought?In this insightful and entertaining talk, Tom Curtis, creator of Things I Have Drawn, takes us on a journey from funny Photoshop edits of children’s sketches to a serious call for preserving childhood imagination. With warmth and wit, he questions how schools, social media, and even well meaning "how to draw" videos risk suppressing creativity in favor of mimicry. As AI reshapes our perception of art and originality, Curtis makes a compelling case for encouraging children to draw their way and why that may be one of the most important creative choices we make for our future. Tom Curtis is on a mission to inject joy into the world of social media and beyond. As the 'dad' behind the wildly popular Instagram account @thingsihavedrawn, his lifelike transformations of children's doodles are a celebration of imagination, playfulness, and the power of human creativity.In his TEDxLancasterU talk, "That's Not How You Draw a Cow," Tom delves into how creativity in children is shaped, and what implications this might have on their future and ours. This thought-provoking exploration offers more than insights into kids’ art; it’s a bold call to reimagine how we cultivate creativity in a world that too often sidelines it.Expect a passionate rallying cry for a future where drawing is revered and nurtured — not just for our children, but for everyone. Tom’s talk will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about creativity and why the way forward may not be the one we’ve been taught. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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