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What kids said in the last survey

Highlights from the 2005/2006 results

Communicating with friends

It appears that kids are chatting more on the Internet than in person. When asked which method they used most often to communicate with friends, secondary students answering the survey were more likely to use Internet chat or MSN (36%) than to talk in person (32%), use a conventional telephone (18%) or use a cell phone (7%). See table.

Kids in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan were the only ones more likely to talk to friends in person than on Internet chat or MSN. New Brunswick students were the most likely to chat on the Internet (43%), while those in British Columbia were the least likely to do so (22%). However, British Columbia students reported the highest rate of cell phone use (12%, compared with 7% nationally). Kids in Nova Scotia and Quebec used the conventional telephone the most. See table.

Allergies

About a third of elementary students across Canada said they had allergies. The percentage of girls with allergies was slightly higher than that of boys with allergies. See table.

Compared with the national average, British Columbia and New Brunswick had a higher percentage of kids with allergies, while the Prairies had a lower percentage. See table.

Favorite charity

If they had $1,000 to donate, students responding to the survey would most likely give it to a health organization (32%). Animal welfare and wildlife charities, followed by international aid organizations, were the next most popular choices. See table.

Most important issue

Health was chosen as the most important issue facing young people today by 37% of high school student respondents-more than twice the percentage of students who chose unemployment (15%) or the environment (14%). See table.

Time use

At the elementary level, girls reported spending twice as much time as boys talking to friends. See table.

Secondary students said they spent more time hanging out with friends (median of 10 hours) than on any other activity. The next two most time-consuming activities were watching TV, videos or movies, and playing or listening to music. Girls reported spending twice as much time as boys on homework. On the other hand, boys spent twice as much time as girls playing video games and participating in sports. See table.

Favourite physical activities

For elementary kids, the top favourite activities were hockey, soccer, basketball and swimming. But the order differed between girls and boys. While hockey was the favourite activity for 22% of boys, it was chosen by only 4% of girls. Swimming was the girls' top activity (16%), followed by soccer, then dance or drama. For boys, the next favourite activities after hockey were basketball and soccer. See table.