Children have big ideas about the future – but these ideas are shaped by their environment, role models, and the opportunities they are given.
We asked children in Iceland: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
They answered with drawings.
The drawings you see on the billboards represent the future vision of 6- to 12-year-old children in Iceland. They reflect diverse dreams and interests – but also highlight how important role models and access to career information are for shaping children’s futures.
Children are the future – Let’s listento them
Children start shaping their career aspirations early, often influenced by gender, location, and a lack of role models. By listening to children’s voices, we can support their dreams and broaden their horizons.
For the past two years, the British Embassy in Iceland has studied children’s career aspirations. Findings show that children are highly influencedby their surroundings, both in real life and on social media. Career interests also vary by location, with rural children seeing fewer career options than those in the capital area.
To explore this further, we launched Okkar framtíð (e. Our future), a nationwide survey for elementary students. It sheds light on how children envision their future and how we can create more opportunities for them.
Nýmennt – School of Education, The University of Iceland
v/Stakkahlíð
105 Reykjavík
Further information: Ragna Skinner
info@staekkaduframtidina.is
