Children put joy of nature in top place

IT’S Mother Nature that makes children happy, not computer games or lots of pocket money.

The majority of pre teens surveyed painted pictures of flowers rainbows and the sun The majority of pre-teens surveyed painted pictures of flowers, rainbows and the sun

Asked to paint a picture of what really makes them smile, the majority of pre-teens surveyed painted pictures of flowers, rainbows and the sun.

Only four per cent of the primary school artists painted pictures of their watching TV.

Fewer still did pictures of computer games and hardly any chose to depict what might have been thought of as a favourite – pocket money.

More than a third painted images of the natural world and 21 per cent depicted friends and family.

Sport was the choice of 11 per cent and going on holiday seven per cent. Playing with games and toys was the choice of a mere 4.74 per cent.

The findings come from the views of 3,943 children who painted “what makes me happy” for a nationwide Happy Art Competition, run by education security company LapSafe.

More than a third painted images of the natural world

Denise Cole, company director, said: “At a time when both education and domestic budgets are becoming increasingly tightened, it’s good news that there’s no need to spend lots of cash to improve children’s well-being.”

However, one might easily suppose that when an artwork is not part of the bargain – toys, games and pocket money might paint a different picture.

And just how do you make a painting of pocket money?

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