Abstract
This report looks at the lives of 11-14-year-olds from the point of view of both parent and child. The 2005 Youth TGI survey has been used to look at the attitudes and spending habits of children in this age group, with extensive re-analysis to help examine the demographic variations among 11-14-year-olds.
In addition, Mintel has commissioned four focus groups among mothers of children aged 11-14 years, to gain an insight into how parents see the lives of their children. The discussion covered children' s leisure and spending habits, their attitudes to their appearance, the things that the mothers thought their children worried about, and the things which concerned the mothers themselves.
It also looked at mothers' attitudes to the ' Kids Getting Older Younger' trend, and at the effect of the child' s siblings (if any), and his/her position in the family, on this, and on other aspects of children' s lifestyles.
- Introduction and Abbreviations
- Abbreviations
- Premier Insight
- Independence?
- Happy children do chores
- Girls consistently read more books than boys
- Cinemas are big business among the 11-14s
- Mainly male + more money = better savings
- Drug education?
- Executive Summary
- A shrinking consumer base
- Children worry about school, and how they look
- Parents' worries: smoking, drinking, drugs -- and healthy eating
- Where to draw the line?
- Cigarettes
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Friends are everything at this age
- Family types
- Pocket money has to be earned for nearly a third of 11-14s
- How much do they care about money?
- An 11-14-year-old' s bedroom is his (or her) entertainment centre
- Lots of sport -- for boys and ABC1s
- 11-14s love eating out
- A third of kids are active
- Girls aged 13-14 are keen clothes shoppers
- Toiletries -- children make decisions, but rarely pay
- What does the future hold?
- Background
- Falling numbers
- Figure 1: UK population aged 11-14, 2001-13
- Changing families
- Figure 2: Average size of family, by year of birth of woman, 1960-90
- Mothers away from home
- Family types
- Figure 3: Family structure, 2005
- Priorities and Concerns of Children and Parents
- What worries 11-14-year-olds?
- The parents' view
- Doom and gloom
- Changing bodies
- Parents worry about children ' coming off the rails'
- Healthy eating or unhealthy paranoia?
- Education
- Figure 4: Achievement of Level 5 and above in Key Stage 3 tests, by gender, 2005
- Children' s feelings about schoolwork
- Figure 5: Anxiety about schoolwork/exams, by individual age group, 2005
- Figure 6: Those who are ' very worried' about schoolwork/exams, by gender and socio-economic group, 2005
- The parents' view
- Smoking, drugs & alcohol
- How real is the problem?
- Figure 7: Smoking, alcohol and use of drugs, by age group, 2005
- Becoming accustomed to the issues
- Figure 8: Anxiety about alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, by individual age group, 2005
- The parents' view
- Cigarettes -- pointing out the dangers
- Drugs -- the big issue
- Alcohol -- acceptance of the inevitable?
- Friends are vital...especially for girls
- Looking good = looking the same as their friends
- Weight worries
- Teasing and bullying
- The opposite sex
- Families slipping to the backseat
- Figure 9: Family cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 10: Leave Me Alone -- comparison of responses to key statements, by family cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 11: Happy families -- comparison of responses to key statements, by family cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 12: Independent -- comparison of responses to key statements, by family cluster groups, 2005
- Home issues
- Figure 13: Those who worry about problems at home, by family cluster groups, 2005
- Family interactions
- Happy Children do Chores!
- Figure 14: Participation in household chores/items in own bedroom, by family cluster groups, 2005
- The Sibling Effect
- Family size
- Family position
- The marketing perspective
- The need to fit in
- Can food education go too far?
- Drink provision
- 11-14-year-olds and Their Money
- Where does the money come from?
- Regular incomes
- Boys fending for themselves
- Figure 15: Earnings as source of income -- boys and girls, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Beating inflation
- Figure 16: Average regular weekly income -- 11-14-year-olds, by age, 2005
- Additional income
- What are they worth?
- Figure 17: Average total income, by age, 2001 and 2005
- Figure 18: Average total income, by gender and socio-economic group, 2005
- Spending it
- Pocket money purchases
- Figure 19: Pocket money purchases, 2005
- Figure 20: Pocket money spend, weekly average* -- 11-14-year-olds, 2001 and 2005
- Figure 21: Changes in pocket money spending, 2001-05
- Children' s attitudes towards money
- Figure 22: Finance cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 23: Finance clusters, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Spoilt Kids -- true to form
- Figure 24: Sources of income, by finance cluster, 2005
- Figure 25: Home lives, by finance cluster groups, 2005
- The parents' view
- Earning their money
- Making their own decisions
- The Sibling Effect
- The benefits of being an only child
- Figure 26: Financial position, by number of siblings, 2005
- Family position
- Sibling hierarchies
- The marketing perspective
- 11-14-year-olds At Home
- Television still rules the airways
- Programmes watched
- Figure 27: Favourite types of TV programme, 2005
- TV in the bedroom?
- Figure 28: Those with a television set and VCR in their bedroom, by age, 2001 and 2005
- C2DEs use bedrooms as entertainment centres
- TV for companionship?
- Bedroom TVs are not necessarily for TV
- ' Well, what else can you buy them for their birthdays?'
- Computer games
- Figure 29: Computer games, by age and gender, 2005
- Who do they play with?
- Figure 30: Who computer games are played with, by age and gender, 2005
- More children play computer games alone than five years ago
- Figure 31: Those who play computer games only by themselves, by age, gender and socio-economic group, 2001 and 2005
- Where do they play them?
- Figure 32: Where computer games are played, by age and gender, 2005
- Figure 33: Where computer games are played, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- How much do they play?
- Figure 34: Number of hours a week play computer games, by gender, 2005
- Time spent on computers poses a threat to television watching
- Figure 35: Time spent playing computer games, by age, gender and socio-economic group, 2001 and 2005
- Purchasing computer games
- Figure 36: Number of computer games bought in the last year, by gender, 2005
- Figure 37: Decision-maker for purchasing computer games, by gender and age, 2005
- Figure 38: Purchaser of household computer games, by gender and age, 2005
- Other computer use
- Universal PCs
- Internet is the norm
- Figure 39: Frequency of accessing the Internet, 2005
- Work v play
- Figure 40: Uses of the Internet, 2005
- Just what girls need
- New technology typologies
- Figure 41: ' New technology' cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 42: ' New technology' cluster groups, by response to statements, 2005
- Figure 43: Computers, computer games and TV, by new technology cluster groups, 2005
- Music
- The arrival of MP3s
- ABC1s at the forefront
- Figure 44: Penetration of MP3 players, 2003-05
- Leaving the mainstream behind
- Figure 45: Most popular kinds of music, 2002 and 2005
- Playing instruments
- Parents and children beg to differ over interest in music
- CDs becoming redundant
- Music typologies
- Figure 46: Music cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 47: Music cluster groups, by response to statements, 2005
- Indie Kids play for themselves
- Figure 48: Musical preferences, musical instrument playing and music purchase, by music typologies, 2005
- More gadgets
- Reading
- 11-14s have still got time for books
- Figure 49: Reading and buying books, 2001 and 2005
- Girls read more than boys
- Possession of books is parentally driven
- Figure 50: Reading and buying books, by gender and age, 2005
- Magazines
- Figure 51: How magazines are obtained, by age group and gender, 2005
- The parents' view
- Finding something to read
- Sleepovers
- Setting the boundaries
- Mobile phones
- Ownership becoming universal
- Figure 52: Those with their own mobile phone, by age, 2001-05
- Ringtones now essential
- Using and paying for phones
- The parents' view
- A means of control
- Girls tend to use their phones more often than boys
- Parental funding
- The Sibling Effect
- Family position
- Family size
- The marketing perspective
- Out to Play
- Parental involvement in children' s leisure
- Pleasing everyone
- Theme parks have more generalised appeal
- Figure 53: Days out, by key demographic sub-groups, 2005
- Cultural and sporting events
- Figure 54: Cultural and sporting events, by key demographic sub-groups, 2005
- Playing sport
- Girl' s football is taking off
- Eating out
- Boys disengaging
- Figure 55: Those who have eaten out during their leisure time in the past seven days, percentage point change between 2001 and 2005, by age, gender and socio-economic group
- Children welcome
- Striking out by themselves
- Cinema -- big business among the 11-14s
- Children' s attitudes towards leisure
- Leisure typologies
- Figure 56: Leisure cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 57: Leisure cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Active Kids vs Couch Potatoes
- Figure 58: Participation in sporting activities, by leisure cluster groups, 2005
- Other leisure activities
- Figure 59: Activities in past seven days, by leisure typology, 2005
- The Sibling Effect
- Family size
- Only children missing out
- The marketing perspective
- The Way They Look
- Shopping for clothes
- Attitudes towards clothes
- Figure 60: Fashion cluster groups, 2005
- Figure 61: Fashion cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Figure 62: Clothes shopping, by fashion typology, 2005
- Toiletries and cosmetics
- Basic cleanliness
- Mousses and gels
- Figure 63: Usage of mousse and hair gel, by age and gender, 2001 and 2005
- Make-up
- Figure 64: Usage of make-up, by age, 2001 and 2005
- Growing up: periods, shaving and the opposite sex
- Preening themselves
- The parents' view
- Looking good is not just a frivolous concern
- Boys' interest suddenly appears
- Boys and their hair
- Girls' interest less of a shock
- The importance of the right brands
- Toiletries: children choose -- parents pay
- The Sibling Effect?
- The marketing perspective
- 11-14-year-olds Today -- And in the Future
- How do children see their future?
- Figure 65: General cluster groups, 2005
- Are today' s 11-14-year-olds different?
- They grow up faster...
- ...although their parents admit they were often worse!
- Drugs are a real worry
- The sibling effect
- The advantage of being the youngest
- Sex discrimination
- The pace of change
- Figure 66: Changes in lifestyles and attitudes, 2001 and 2005
- The impact of technology
- But some things don' t change
- Taking life as it comes
- Forecast
- A retracting consumer base...
- Figure 67: Projected trends in 11-14' s population, 2005-11
- ... but rising incomes with inflation
- Figure 68: Forecast of the average weekly income of 11-14-year-olds, 2005-11
- Factors incorporated
- Appendix
- Background
- Figure 69: UK population aged 11-14, by age, 2001-13
- Figure 70: Average age of mother at childbirth, England & Wales, 1971-2003
- Figure 71: Average size of family*, by year of birth of woman, 1960-90
- Figure 72: Number of divorces of couples with children under 16, 2001-04
- Figure 73: Children of couples divorced*, by age, England and Wales, 2001-04
- Figure 74: Percentage of dependent children living in different family types, GB, 1972-2004
- Figure 75: Employment rates of married/cohabiting mothers with youngest dependent child aged 11-18, 1994-2004
- Figure 76: Employment status of families with children aged 11-15, by family type, UK, spring 2004
- Priorities and concerns of Children and Parents
- Figure 77: Percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 and above in Key Stage 3 tests, 2003-05
- Figure 78: Percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 and above in Key Stage 3 tests, by gender, 2005
- Figure 79: Those who are worried about schoolwork/exams, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 80: Smoking, alcohol and use of drugs, by age group, 2005
- Figure 81: Those who are worried about alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 82: Family cluster groups, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 83: Family cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Figure 84: Issues 11-14s are concerned about, by family cluster groups, 2005
- 11-14-year-olds and their money
- Figure 85: Regular sources of income -- 11-14-year-olds, by gender and age group, 2005
- Figure 86: Regular sources of income -- 11-14-year-olds, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 87: Earnings as a source of income, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 88: Those who have done household chores during the past seven days and those who get money for chores or odd jobs, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 89: Average regular weekly income (all sources)* at current and constant prices -- 11-14-year-olds, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 90: Additional sources of income, by gender and age group, 2005
- Figure 91: Additional sources of income, by gender and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 92: Average total annual income, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 93: Who they go shopping with when spending own money, by gender and age, 2005
- Figure 94: Parents versus friends as shopping companions, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 95: Finance cluster groups, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 96: Finance cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- At home
- Figure 97: Audio-visual items in bedroom, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 98: Consoles and handheld computer games ever played, by age, gender and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 99: Those who play computer games only alone and those who play in their bedroom, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 100: Usage of computer games, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 101: Those with a computer in their own bedroom, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 102: New technology cluster groups, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 103: New technology cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Figure 104: Audio devices have in room, 2005
- Figure 105: Number who have bought recorded music in the last month, 2005
- Figure 106: Those with MP3 player in room, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 107: Type of music liked, 2005
- Figure 108: Type of music liked, by gender, age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 109: Those who have played a musical instrument during their leisure time in the past seven days, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 110: Music cluster groups, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 111: Music cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Figure 112: Camera ownership and participation in photography, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 113: Reading and purchasing of books, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 114: Where books are obtained, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 115: Kinds of books liked best, by gender, 2005
- Figure 116: Those who have slept over at a friend' s house during the past seven days, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 117: Those with own mobile phone, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 118: Accessories bought for mobile phone, 2005
- Figure 119: Recipients of calls and text messages from mobile phone, 2005
- Figure 120: Main recipients of calls, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 121: Main recipients of text messages, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 122: Who pays for mobile phone calls, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 123: Monthly bill for mobile phone, 2005
- Out to play
- Figure 124: Attitudes towards family leisure -- parents of children aged 10-14, by gender, 2005
- Figure 125: Days out/outings in past year, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 126: Activities/outings in the past six months, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 127: Those who have taken part in a sporting activity in their leisure time during the past seven days and average weekly time spent on sport, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 128: Favourite sports (top ten) -- boys, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 129: Favourite sports (top ten) -- girls, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 130: Sports participated in about once a week -- boys, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 131: Sports participated in about once a week -- girls, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 132: Memberships of sports and other clubs -- boys, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 133: Memberships of sports and other clubs -- girls, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 134: Those who have eaten out during their leisure time in the past seven days, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 135: Who eat in with at pizza or fast food restaurants, by age group and gender, 2005
- Figure 136: Who eat in with at pizza or fast food restaurants, by age group and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 137: Restaurants visited in the last three months, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 138: Who they go with to restaurants, by age group and gender, 2005
- Figure 139: Who they go with to restaurants, by age and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 140: Frequency of visiting the cinema, 2005
- Figure 141: Most recent visit to the cinema, 2005
- Figure 142: Who they go to the cinema with, 2005
- Figure 143: Leisure cluster groups, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 144: Leisure cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Appearance
- Figure 145: Frequency of clothes shopping, by gender and age, 2005
- Figure 146: Companions when shopping for clothes, by gender and age, 2005
- Figure 147: Who usually pays for clothes, by gender and age group, 2005
- Figure 148: Paying for clothes -- self versus parents, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 149: Those who have ' a lot of say' in the clothes they wear, by gender and age group, 2005
- Figure 150: Fashion cluster groups, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 151: Fashion cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
- Figure 152: Decision-maker for brands of toiletries used, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 153: Skincare, by gender and age, 2005
- Figure 154: Those who use hair colourants, mousse and gel, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 155: Decision-maker for brands of mousse/gel used, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 156: Those who wear make-up -- girls, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 157: Type of make-up worn -- girls, by individual age group, 2005
- Figure 158: Who buys make-up -- girls, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 159: Growing up -- those whose periods have not yet started -- girls, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 160: Growing up -- age at which periods started -- girls aged 14, 2005
- Figure 161: Boys who shave regularly, by individual age group, 2005
- Figure 162: Boys who wear aftershave, by individual age group and socio-economic group, 2005
- Figure 163: Agreement/disagreement that ' It' s important to be attractive to the opposite sex' , by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 164: General attitudes cluster groups, by demographic sub-group, 2005
- Figure 165: General attitudes, cluster groups, by lifestyle statements, 2005
