How are Emerging Attitudes to Creativity Impacting Family Life for 2026?

Crisis-focused news cycles are continuing to take their toll on families’ physical, mental, financial and environmental well–being. However, instead of fearing an uncertain future, next-gen families are beginning to use creativity to find comfort and control in the present.  

This sees the forecasts covered in our Creative Rebels and The Restorers Parental Personas reports come to the fore for 2026, influencing a new era of creative problem-solving.   

Here, we introduce two of our premium reports that delve deeper into one of our key themes, PlayHouse, first featured in our Big Picture Macro 2026 forecast. This annual trend report examines the major lifestyle shifts shaping the future of family life and childhood. 

The Big Picture 2026 Macro Trends: PlayHouse

Families say goodbye to the playroom and hello to the playhouse as a kid-centric approach to living takes hold in the family home. The power of play will transform fear into fun, helping children and caregivers find light in times of hardship. Rather than waiting around for those in power to act, at-home creative resourcefulness reigns, helping families, educators, and brands take matters into their own hands…all whilst having fun in the process. This strong investment in play and creativity will not only amplify the power of the inner child at all ages and stages of fe, but will also fuel new creative solutions to families’ real-world problems. 

Parents Want To Play Too

The rapid rise of “kidulting” is proving parents and caregivers want to play too. Taking inspiration from our 2026 Macro trend, PlayHouse, our Playful Parenting – Designing for Fun: 2026 report explores new ways to embrace play and engage in childlike nostalgia and expression to connect with the fun-seeking behaviours of next-gen caregivers.  

From the rise of ‘kidults’ and the nostalgic allure of retro games to turning fear into fun and healing your inner child, the ways families connect and play together are continually expanding and enriching.  

Nurturing Next-Gen Creativity

As explored in our Art House – Plugging the Creative Gap: 2026 report, creativity and innovation are vital in driving economic growth, with the arts industry contributing 4.3% to the U.S. national GDP. Despite this significant impact, arts education funding has yet to reflect its economic value fully. 

As sustainability remains a key focus for both caregivers and children, brands can benefit by offering in-store workshops that combine creativity with practical skills. These hands-on sessions teach young minds how to repair and recycle, fostering both environmental awareness and creative expression. 

Need to know what’s next for the future of family life?  

Our 2026 and 2027 Big Picture macro reports outline the pivotal overarching lifestyle trends shaping the future of caregivers, children and tweens. As part of our My TrendBible trend subscription we provide comprehensive insight reports, helping you to create commercially viable products for baby and kids’ markets.