A new poll of 1,000 British children has found that banning homework, spending more time helping others and protecting the planet top the list of changes youngsters would make if they were in charge, with the vast majority saying they would prioritise kindness and inclusion over “big, complicated fixes.”
Banning homework, doing more to help those in need, and taking better care of the planet are among the top changes British children would make to improve the world, according to a new survey. The poll of 1,000 six to 16-year-olds found that 42% would introduce longer playtimes, 43% would build more parks and playgrounds, and 37% would give people more time to rest in order to make everyone happier. The research was commissioned by creative play and stationery specialists Maped Helix UK.
What children would change
Beyond structural changes to school and free time, the survey found strong support among children for creative pursuits, with 83% saying more time for drawing, making and inventing things would make people happier overall.
Kindness and inclusion emerged as central themes throughout the findings. More than eight in ten children, 83%, said they would make it their mission to help others more if they were in charge instead of adults, while 92% said it was important to make sure nobody feels left out or alone. In practice, this translated into specific actions: 31% said they would make sure to include everyone in games, while 34% said they would sit with people who are lonely.
A spokesperson for Maped Helix UK said the findings reflected children’s natural instincts toward care and honesty. “Kids have the most fascinating imaginations, filled with care and compassion, but also plenty of honesty,” they said. “What’s so heartwarming 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.” They added: “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 respond to unkindness
The survey also explored how children say they would respond if they witnessed someone being picked on. Nearly half, 46%, said they would tell a teacher or another adult, while 37% said they would help the person being targeted or stand by them, and 10% said they would ask someone else to step in and help.
When asked about the nicest thing to do for someone who seems sad or lonely, 31% said they would talk to them, 28% said they would try to make them laugh, and 19% said they would invite them to join in with what they were doing.
Do adults listen to children?
The research also touched on how children feel about being heard by adults. Just 14% of children polled via OnePoll.com felt that grown-ups always listen to their good ideas, though a further 75% said adults did listen to them, at least some of the time. However, 8% of children said adults never listened to them at all.
What makes a great day
When asked what makes their day really great, children ranked playing with friends highest at 66%, followed by doing something fun with family at 61%, and getting a treat or something special at 55%. Laughter also featured prominently, with 49% saying it would make their day.
Who should be in charge of improving the world?
Asked who was best placed to make the world a better place, the most popular response, chosen by 70% of children, was “everyone working together.” Children themselves were seen as well suited to the task by 43% of respondents, notably higher than the 34% who nominated “people who make the rules,” suggesting many children feel they could do a better job than those currently in charge of decision-making.
What parents think
The survey also gathered the views of 1,000 parents, the majority of whom shared a positive view of their children’s outlook. Some 85% said their child’s outlook on the world was positive, while 88% agreed that children today genuinely care about improving the world. Around 42% said their child often talks about the positive changes they would like to make, and 78% felt their child’s ideas for improvement were more imaginative than those typically put forward by adults.
Asked what they believed their children ultimately wanted, 44% of parents said their child simply wants to make everyone happier. Separately, 88% of parents described their child as creative, and 94% said free time was important to their child’s happiness.
When asked what would make the biggest difference to their child’s happiness, parents ranked less academic pressure highest at 39%, followed by more outdoor time and more opportunities for creative activities.
Reflecting on the overall findings, the Maped Helix spokesperson 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.”
