A poll of 1,000 six to 16-year-olds found 42% would introduce longer playtimes, build more parks and playgrounds (43%), and make everyone happier by giving them more rest time (37%). More than eight in 10 children (83%) think we should have more time for creative tasks like drawing, making and inventing things as they think it would make people happier.
Children's Positive Outlook
Eight in 10 (83%) also said if they were in charge instead of grown-ups, they would be active and help others more. More than nine in 10 (92%) feel it’s important to make sure nobody feels left out or alone – so would include everyone in games (31%) and sit with those who are lonely (34%).
A spokesperson for the creative play and stationery experts, Maped Helix UK, which commissioned the research, said: “Kids have the most fascinating imaginations, filled with care and compassion, but also plenty of honesty.
“What’s so heart-warming from this research is just how instinctively children want to look after each other – whether that’s helping someone in need, making sure nobody feels left out, or simply putting more time aside for play and creativity.
“It really shows that, at their core, children aren’t thinking about big, complicated fixes – they just want a kinder, happier world where everyone feels included.”
How Children Would Help Others
The study also showed if children saw someone being bullied, they’d tell a grown-up (46%), help them or stand by them (37%) or ask someone else to help (10%). When asked what is the nicest thing to do when someone feels upset or lonely, 31% said talk to them, 28% would make them laugh and 19% would ask them to join in.
While just 14% of the kids polled via OnePoll.com thought grown-ups always listen to children’s good ideas, exactly three-quarters admitted adults did sometimes listen. However, nearly one in 10 (8%) of the youngsters said adults never listened at all.
Playing with friends (66%), doing fun things with family (61%) and getting a treat or something special (55%) were the top three things that can make their day really great. But laughter was not far behind since nearly half (49%) said this would make their day.
Who Can Make the World Better?
When it comes to who can make the world better, 43% said children would do the best job although the most popular answer (70%) was ‘everyone working together’. The ‘people who make the rules’ only came in at 34%, indicating kids think they’d do a better job of it.
Of the 1,000 parents also polled 85% said their children have a positive view of the world. While 88% agreed kids today care about improving the world, 42% said their child often talks about the positive things they’d do and 78% reckon their improvements would be better and are more imaginative than those of adults.
Parents said their kids just want to make everyone feel happier (44%). Almost nine in 10 parents (88%) said their child is creative and 94% said free time is important for their happiness.
The top three things they felt would make the biggest difference to their little one’s happiness would be less pressure at school (39%), more outdoor time and more opportunities to get creative.
The spokesperson for Maped Helix said: “The findings highlight just how positive and thoughtful children are about the future.
“It’s a powerful reminder that when children are given the space to share their ideas and get hands on, their creative minds and outlook is not only optimistic, but genuinely inspiring.”
Top 10 Things Kids Would Do to Make the World a Better Place
Help people in need more, no homework, take care of the planet, build more parks and playgrounds, longer playtimes, more time to rest, have animals visit school, more time to play sport, sit with people who are lonely, and (jointly) include everyone in games or have days just to do arts and crafts.
