Happy Childhood: Children’s Voices Survey
By Mr. Yu Long Ting, Social Worker at St. James’ Settlement Wan Chai Integrated Family Service Centre
From October 2015 to January 2016, the Wan Chai Integrated Family Service Centre conducted the “Happy Childhood: Children’s Voices” survey, interviewing 141 primary school students in the Wan Chai District to understand their experiences of happiness and stress in daily life.
Although over 90% of students reported experiencing various forms of stress, overall ratings showed that they still felt satisfied and happy. Their main sources of happiness included academic achievement, food and entertainment, and engaging in personal interests. Analysis revealed that elements such as a sense of success, enjoyment, and opportunities for self-expression helped children maintain a positive mindset when facing everyday challenges. However, 7.7% of students—roughly 1 in every 10—reported feeling unhappy. In a typical class of 30 students, this would mean about 3 children may be experiencing unhappiness, highlighting the need for parents and teachers to offer extra patience, support, and care.
Regarding sources of stress, 75% of students cited “academic pressure” as the main cause, followed by “family conflicts,” “illness of loved ones,” “extracurricular activities,” and “tutoring,” which together accounted for 12.5%. Another 12.5% did not respond. While academic pressure is often unavoidable and illness is beyond control, there is room to improve family relationships and how children’s time outside school is managed. Even when family conflicts don’t directly involve the child, many still report feeling stressed and troubled by them.
Some children’s wishes reveal concerns about their current situations, such as: “I don’t want to be bullied—I want to protect myself,” “I want to get rid of worries,” “I wish for a peaceful home,” “I hope the world is fair,” “No thieves in the world,” “I wish Dad wouldn’t scold me,” and “I want wings to fly away from home.” These wishes serve as reminders for parents to reflect and spend more time listening patiently to their children’s thoughts and offering timely support. Other wishes, like “I hope Mom lives forever,” “I wish my parents live a long life,” and “I want my grandparents to come back to life and my family to live forever,” highlight the emotional impact of loss and grief on children, which parents should be mindful of.
Finally, over 70% of students do not directly express their emotions when feeling unhappy. Only 5.7% would actively talk to family members, 12.8% show emotional responses, 9.2% express their distress through tantrums or aggression, and 14.9% respond by sleeping. A significant 57.5% distract themselves with other activities such as playing video games, watching TV, reading comics, or snacking. Parents should be alert to signs like increased sleep, frequent fatigue, obsession with entertainment or food, or frequent outbursts, as these may indicate emotional distress that children struggle to express. It’s important for parents to pay attention to the emotions behind their children’s behaviors and care deeply about their inner feelings.
If parents have any questions about child development or parenting, they are welcome to visit or contact our center’s social workers.
