Children have revealed the top changes they would make if they were in charge of the country – including protecting all animals, no more homework or school uniforms, and teaching kids to cook from an earlier age.
A survey, of 1,000 6-12-year-olds, and their parents, found that more than a third (36%) of the youngsters polled would like to have their own say on government decisions around climate change.
Other top changes they would implement include lessons for everyone on how to protect the planet – as an overwhelming 92% of youths believe it is everyone's responsibility to look after the planet.
Children would also like to learn more about climate change in schools, make all cars electric to reduce pollution – and eat more meat-free meals.
And nearly three-quarters of the parents polled said their children are like “mini educators” at home – teaching the older generation about why littering is bad, and changing attitudes towards food consumption.
A third of children also revealed they would consider recyclables being incorrectly thrown in the bin an illegal offence.
The findings were part of a comprehensive report produced by Birds Eye’s Green Cuisine, which has been backed by child clinical psychologist, Dr Elizabeth Kilbey.
Dr Kilbey said: “I think it’s essential this generation’s voice is heard.
“The research has highlighted how children have important views they’d like to be taken seriously by adults, on everything from food to the planet.
“However, there’s some really interesting insight on their opinions of doing things like cutting meat from their diets a little more to help protect the planet.
“Recent stats from YouGov show that there is an increasing trend towards consumers adopting more flexitarian diets, with many believing this is healthier for them – with the added bonus that we know eating more plant-based foods could help to cut carbon emissions by up to 60%.
“This research is shining a light on how smart and clued-up kids are, in a bid to bring them into the conversations that will impact their futures.”
Further insight from the report also revealed over a third of children (34%) have asked an adult if they could eat a meal that doesn’t include any meat – with 42% reckoning they probably wouldn’t notice if meat wasn’t in their meals.
And almost half (45%) wished adults listened to them more about what food they want to consume.
Children revealed they have taught their parents about why littering is bad, how everyone needs to stop using so much plastic – and the importance of trees and plants to the planet, with nine in ten keen to learn more about how they can do their bit.
And when it comes to getting rid of waste, six in ten kids (61%) have told an adult off for not recycling something they should have.
It also emerged that primary schools are influential on such issues, as children revealed they listen to teachers most when it comes learning about protecting the planet – ahead of TV shows, family, and even activists like Greta Thunberg.
In a sobering admission from kids, eight in ten have visibly witnessed pollution, like dirty smoke from cars or factories.
But two-thirds (65%) aren’t clued up on the meaning of climate change, according to the OnePoll data.
Victoria Westwood, from Green Cuisine, which is launching its “love me or I’m free” on-pack promotion in December, added: “It’s easy to write off what children say sometimes – however, it’s clear many are the mini educators of the household, and parents are actually learning from them.
“Children are hungry to learn and better the planet – whether that be through small and simple changes like eating less meat-based meals a week, or more drastic changes linked to saving energy and reducing pollution.
“Our recent study has shown plant-based frozen meals often have a smaller carbon footprint on average compared to red meat.
“It’s these small swaps from meat to plant-based meals that we believe can have a really positive impact on our planet.”
TOP FOOD CHANGES KIDS WOULD MAKE IF THEY WERE IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTRY:
- Eat whatever I want for breakfast/lunch/dinner
- Teach children how to cook from an earlier age in the kitchen
- Get to choose the meals I eat everyday
- Eat my food in any order I want e.g. dessert first
- Don't have to eat dinner at the table if I don't want to
- More education on which foods are good and bad for you
- Kids must be listened to about what they want for dinner
- Parents aren't allowed to tell kids what to eat
- Meat-free meals to be more freely available in schools
- Everyone eats a balance of meat and meat-free dinners
TOP LIFESTYLE CHANGES KIDS WOULD MAKE IF THEY WERE IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTRY:
- Protect all animals
- Plant more trees
- Lessons for everyone on how to protect the planet
- Everyone would get free bicycles to reduce pollution
- Reuse household items
- Kids get a say in governmental decisions around climate change
- Lights get turned off everywhere at bedtime to save energy
- Make all cars electric to reduce pollution
- Throwing things in the bin that could be recycled would be illegal
- Build less homes and roads
TOP EDUCATION CHANGES KIDS WOULD MAKE IF THEY WERE IN CHARGE OF THE COUNTRY:
- No homework
- No school uniforms
- Learn more about nature and wildlife
- Have lessons outside
- Parents only work one day a week, and play with kids the rest of the time
- Cooking lessons once a week
- Video games to be brought in as lessons at school
- Learn more about climate change
- Have music on in the classroom
- Kids teach the teachers
