What matters most to our kids? 8500 tell Commissioner for Children and Young People
They’re not even teenagers yet but thousands of SA kids have told a landmark survey that they’re pinning their dreams on landing top jobs.
SA News
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The responses of almost 8500 thousand South Aussie kids are at the heart of a first of its kind report, to be publicly released today by the Commissioner for Children and Young People.
In 2019, Helen Connolly asked the state’s schoolchildren, aged between eight to 12, a series of open-ended questions on postcards to find out what matters most to them.
The 8,429 responses, including to what they would do if they were “the boss of SA”, came from students at 239 schools across the state.
“The ‘tween’ years are a stage when early intervention can have the greatest positive impact … these are the years in which there is a rare opportunity for community leaders, and educators to really connect with children on things that matter to them,” Ms Connolly said
By better understanding the priorities of children, more informed decisions around things such as policymaking and infrastructure for kids could be made, she said.
“We need to be really conscious of the fact if we want all children to do well we need to put in place the kind of environments, situations and circumstances that help them do well,” Ms Connolly said.
“The focus on the importance of early brain development and early years learning, as well as an increasing focus on adolescent mental health, has meant that public policy for eight to 12 year olds is not a high priority.
“(This survey) is quite significant, I don’t know if you would find anywhere around the world doing something like this, on this scale.”
Ms Connolly said when describing “hopes and dreams”, getting a good job came in at the top of the list with children seeing a direct link between their education and learning, to their present and future wellbeing and prospects.
Ms Connolly said ensuring schools had good ovals and sporting facilities was a priority for many with children also suggesting anti-bullying and wellbeing initiatives, including for meditation to be incorporated into the classroom.
Somewhat worryingly kids referred often to the cost of living.
“The ‘cost of things’ came up a lot, with many children wanting to have enough to afford ‘the basics’, plus a bit more,” Ms Connolly said.
On the up side, Ms Connolly said parents, carers and educators could take heart by values-driven responses of children.
“I didn’t pick up on any materialistic, or individualistic theme from any of these 8500 children … these kids were talking about others, being a good friend, a good person, those kinds of things,” she said.
For young Oliver Straga, 10, of Beaumount, being in the state’s top job for the day would mean banning homework.
“ … because it’s important (kids) learn physical skills outside and make friends,” he said.
“And I would put money towards repairing the places that have been hit by bushfires and helping the fauna and flora,” he said.
The public release of The Things That Matter Release coincides with the distribution of postcards for the 2020 report with Ms Connolly hoping to double the responses this year.
For details visit ccyp.com.au
