BLÅVINGAD

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“Children are engaged and well-informed about the pollution of the world’s oceans and how it affects the animals that live there. They want to do something about it and encourage us, adults, to do the same,” says child psychologist Dr Barbie Clarke. She regularly participates in the work with our Kid’s Advisory Panel, where we interview children in different countries about their opinions on various topics.

But what is it about the oceans that fascinates and engages children worldwide – even children that live hundreds of kilometres from the coast? “The deep seas and their inhabitants have always been part of myths and stories that we tell each other,” says Barbie. “It’s a world of its own under the surface, something mysterious and exciting that brings the imagination to life.”

Stories, games and movies about life in the deep sea give children access to a world that is different from their own everyday life. “When children are between 3 and 6 years old, they fantasize the most, and when they get a bit older, they want to learn facts and understand how the oceans work,” says Barbie. She adds that when children are absorbed by something, it’s more than a game; they forget their worries, explore the world and broaden their horizons – just like a giant blue whale that floats off to explore the sea.