Kids Demand Prime Minister Makes Childhood Safer

What would you say to the Prime Minister if you found yourself alone in a lift with him for 30 seconds? Well, we now know exactly what 6000 children aged six to 14 would say!

Today Intuitive Media published a new research report that calls for the Prime Minister and the Government to do more to listen to children; keep children safe; stop bullying; cut down gun and knife crime and ban drugs, alcohol and smoking.

Someone's listening!
The Rt.Hon Charles Clarke MP, listens to kids
who took part in the Happy & Safe research

Over 6,000 children, aged six to 14 years in SuperClubsPLUS and GoldStarCafe contributed to the Happy and Safe research and they called for extra policing and surveillance in parks and other places where they play and on their walk to and from school. One of the most popular suggestions from the children was an emergency number that they can call anytime they felt unsafe (63%) or more specifically a police helpline on their mobile (59%).

We asked the children what made them feel happy and safe in the real world and in their new online worlds and we also invited them to tell the Government how their lives could be improved. The children told us what they would say to the Prime Minister if they found themselves alone in a lift with him for 30 seconds.

Children said if they felt the streets were safe, 83 per cent of them would walk to school every day and if parks were safer 78 per cent of children would play out more. Nearly two thirds (60%) suggested using signs to either warn children a place is safe or unsafe to play.

The children's biggest concerns were violence (54%), street crime (53%) and sadly half of them (51%) worry about their parents arguing or divorcing. Nearly half, (48%) worry about their own health, and in recession-hit Britain, 40 per cent worry about being poor.

"I want the Prime Minister to stop gang crime and alcohol and drugs being on the streets as I don't like sleeping on a Friday or Saturday night because of all the shouting and teenagers around.”
- Megan, 11

Overall, the report shows that most children (82%) do feel happy and safe most of the time and that the love of their family and friends is the most important source of happiness. However, they also said that boredom is the biggest downer (74%) along with adults who expect too much of them and having to work too hard. They want more freedom to play (52%), relax (49%) and pursue their hobbies (65%) and they want more time to spend in their online communities being creative (60%).

“I'd say that he [the Prime Minister] needs to seriously think about the amount of homework given in school. I've been really stressed about all the work I have to do, and one week I didn't even have any time to do anything fun at all.”
- Catriona, 13

When looking at children's everyday online behaviour, we found there is still significant leeway for them to stray into risky behaviour online with over a third of children (38%) using their computers alone in their rooms giving them the opportunity to surf the web unsupervised and take part in private online conversations without their parents' knowledge.

And, despite most children (80%) claiming they do understand the risk of giving personal contact details out to strangers online there is still a minority (15%), that don't. In addition, 15 per cent of children said they wouldn't tell their parents, teachers or friends if someone they met online came to their house (14%) phoned them (16%) or asked for their contact details (17%).

We've sent the report to Gordon Brown and Ed Balls. It will be interesting to see their response. I'll let you know what they have to say to the kids.