The days when the height of a child's ambition was to be a fireman, garda, train driver or nurse are gone . . . these kids are shooting for the stars [Independent.ie]
- Published: 23 September 2011
SHOWS like 'The X Factor' with a focus on celebrity culture have taken over children's ambitions.
It seems that 50pc of boys fancy themselves as a big-name soccer or rugby player, while 36pc of girls see a glittering stage or screen career ahead in singing, acting or dancing.
These are among the main findings of new research on the experiences and perceptions of nine-year-olds in Ireland today, launched by Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald yesterday.
It is based on in-depth interviews with children from all socio-economic backgrounds, seeking to get behind the facts and figures from an earlier survey of 8,500 nine-year-olds by the same researchers.
The 'Growing Up in Ireland' study, being carried out at Trinity College Dublin, is the most significant piece of research ever carried out on children in Ireland.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
