Singaporean policymakers are increasingly recognising the importance of involving children in decision-making, a shift that has gained momentum since Singapore ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1995. However, a prevailing assumption remains that meaningful contributions are more likely to come from older children, often overlooking the strengths and capacities of younger ones.

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This project, “What Matters to Our Children?”, supported by the LEGO Group, builds on earlier pilots and local partnerships to invite us to see otherwise. Using a play-based, child-participatory approach, it sought to understand what matters most to young children and who they hope will hear their voices. The project affirms that children as young as six are not only capable of forming thoughtful views, but are also eager to share them when given the time, space, and tools to do so.

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A total of 201 children aged between 3 and 14 years old participated across 10 workshop sessions, expressing their ideas through LEGO bricks, drawings, written notes, repurposed materials, and conversations. Their insights reveal a wide range of concerns, from personal and family well-being to social issues, environmental sustainability, and global peace. Not only did they name the problems they observed, they also offered ideas and solutions with clarity, imagination, and hope.

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These findings are a powerful reminder that young children are not just future adults. They are present-day thinkers, creators, and contributors. We invite adults who care for children, those in positions of policy or media influence, and all those who support children to create regular, safe and inclusive spaces for young voices to be heard and for those voices to meaningfully inform action.​​​