The War Draws Younger Viewers

New research completed by Nunwood Consulting's Youth Research Unit last week in the UK shows that the war in Iraq has captured children's natural curiosity, with 1 in 4 children paying more attention to the news.

The research aimed to identify the feelings of children towards the conflict in Iraq. From speaking with both parents and children, the research outlined the growing inquisitiveness of children regarding the war and their want to understand.

Claire Boorman, who conducted the study stated; 'It is likely that children are watching a greater amount of war coverage on TV than perhaps parents realise. This has resulted from a combination of children's programmes being rescheduled and an increase in viewing among parents. From the parent's responses, 71% questioned have discussed the conflict with their children. 15% highlighted that one of their child's biggest fears is that the UK is bombed or invaded.'

As well as outlining the key concerns of the children, the study also highlighted the relationship between how parents voted in the last election and their perceptions of how their child is coping with the war situation.

Claire Boorman continues; 'Parents who had voted Conservative in the last general election were the least likely to have explained the conflict to their children. Labour voters were in many ways the most open with their children, with significantly more explaining who was involved in the war and were ten times more likely to explain the meaning and reasons behind the conflict.16% of the parents that were questioned by the Nunwood Consulting team were strongly against the war. This group was more likely to report that their children were worried and curious about the conflict, compared to those parents in favour. In comparison, adults supporting the war perceived their children as having no concerns about the conflict.'

Claire Boorman, concluded; 'Overall, I was surprised by the balanced views of the children, being neither wholly pro or wholly anti war. There is remarkable insight from even some of the very youngest in our sample, with one seven year old boy even saying; 'There are no goodies or baddies'!'

Children themselves were interviewed at length in friendship pairs, whilst a complementary quantitative study asked parents about how their children were reacting to the war.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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