Findings from 4Children's survey My Ideal World, launched by former children's minister Margaret Hodge on Monday, revealed that young people were more interested in progress on poverty, climate change and putting an end to world conflict than getting more pocket money or having the freedom to live without rules.
Out of the 2,000 four-to 14-year-olds questioned, 90 per cent said that they wanted to end world hunger, 85 per cent wanted to end war and violence and 65 per cent wanted to stop global warming. Only 25 per cent saw having no restrictions or rules as the path to a better life.
When the children were asked who had the qualities of a superhero, Jesus Christ received 70 per cent of their votes, followed by joint runners-up Florence Nightingale and David Beckham .
Launching the survey as part of Shout Out 4Children Week, a campaign to get children and young people's voices heard, Margaret Hodge, now the minister for employment and welfare reform, joined children from Burdett Coutts School in the London borough of Westminster, along with Scooby-Doo from cable TV channel Cartoon Network, the survey sponsors.
Ms Hodge told Nursery World, 'I've always felt we should listen to children's voices and young people shouldn't be stigmatised as yobs and difficult members of the community. The vilification of young people does not support where young people are at. They are the next generation and we've got to value what they have to say.'
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said, 'This survey shows that young people have strong views on the world around them, with real concerns about the major issues of poverty, war and the environment. In direct contrast to the bad press we are so familiar with, the Shout Out 4Children campaign shows that young people take respect for others and the environment seriously. We have a responsibility to listen to them.
'With the mass popularity of cause-related wristbands, and recent campaigns against war and poverty, children and young people are leading the way in social conscience in this country, demonstrating that it is now "cool to care".'
Shout Out 4Children Week runs until 3 July as part of June's National Sure Start Month. For free copies of the My Ideal World survey call 020 7512 2100.
