New research out today reveals that ‘being kind to others’, ‘people not having enough to eat’ and ‘protecting animals and their habitats’, are among the top 10 issues that children in Manchester are most concerned about in 2019.
The poll was commissioned by Disney UK, as part of its Dream Big, Princess campaign, which asked children to identify the issues that they most want to fix or improve in the world, ranging from cleaning the ocean, to world hunger.
The research also found that children are becoming more socially conscious with 61 per cent feeling that they have the power to make the world around them a better place.
Almost half (49 per cent) of all children polled also said they were prepared to stand up for the things they believe in, with 29 per cent having already campaigned about things they care about at school. Six per cent of children have even written to the Prime Minister or their local MP to ask that they look into an issue they are worried about.
Understanding that these issues are front of mind for a generation of socially conscious children, Disney has partnered with invention experts, Little Inventors, to inspire them to share ideas that could help change the world.
Harnessing the qualities of the Disney Princess characters, from Ariel’s curiosity to Merida’s bravery, children are being encouraged to use their incredible imaginations to come up with invention ideas with no limits – they can share these ideas at www.littleinventors.org/disneyprincess. The girl or boy behind the best invention submitted will receive a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork of themselves brought to life by Walt Disney Animation Studios legendary animator, Mark Henn, who animated Ariel, Jasmine, Tiana, Mulan, and Belle.
The research also revealed that 77 per cent of children aged five in Manchester agreed that they have the power to change the world. However, this belief diminishes with age, with only 53 per cent of children aged 13 believing this to be true. In addition, 40 per cent of all children in Manchester feel that adults don’t listen to their ideas enough.
Interestingly, the research also showed that children aged eight were most likely to feel it was really important to do a job that makes the world a better place (34 per cent). With over 90 per cent wishing they could invent something to make the world a better place. When it comes to positive roles models, the research revealed that girls are twice as likely to be inspired by women, then by men.
In answer to where children in Manchester find their information about issues facing the world today, school is named the number one source (52 per cent), followed by their parents (43 per cent), then online channels such as YouTube (30 per cent).
TOP 10 THINGS THAT CHILDREN IN MANCHESTER MOST WANT TO CHANGE IN THE WORLD:
- Being kinder to others
- People not having enough food to eat
- People not having any money
- Protecting animals and their habitats
- Making sure everyone has a home
- Cleaning plastic from the oceans
- Wars around the world
- Boys and girls being treated the same
- Cleaning up litter
- People not having access to clean water
