Children want real attention from the people around them and less pressure at school, a poll of 2,000 children reveals.

Although the results are not representative – more girls than boys responded and children from pre-college and university streams were over-represented –  this is the first large-scale poll among under-18s to be conducted by the Childrens’ Ombudsman.

‘It wasn’t meant to be completely representative. We wanted to know what children are thinking and which issues we need to pay more attention to,’ public broadcaster NOS quotes an Ombudsman spokesperson as saying.

Children’s Ombudswoman Margrite Kalverboer talked to children in schools, a hospital, youth care centres, and youth organisations. Some 2,000 children were asked to fill out a form of which some 1,4000 were returned filled out completely.

Most children said they felt they were growing up in a nice environment and that they were happy, giving their lives an average score of 7.4. Problems ranged from arguing parents to issues that meant they had come into contact with youth services. Children who scored low marks in school give their lives an average of 6.6.

According to the poll ,many of the children feel they are under too much pressure about schoolwork. They also want more help with matters related to school and more subjects to choose from. The issues will be brought to the attention of politicians and educationalists, Kalverboer said.