For adults, there are seven wonders of the world. In children’s eyes, there are seven million. Sunflowers (73%), seashells (52%) and caterpillars (42%) top the list of children’s ‘wonders of the world’ in London according to a new study.

Other everyday wonders which stop children in the region in their tracks include rocks (41%), puddles (22%), and diggers (10%).

To highlight just how crucial good eyesight is for children to experience all this wonder, Specsavers has created a Wonders film and launched museum-style exhibits across the UK.

Each installation in London, Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff features a ‘wonder’ chosen by a local child. These include a life-sized digger, a perfectly imperfect rock, a carefully collected seashell, a curly caterpillar, and a colourful sunflower.

Children’s ‘Wonders of the World’ Campaign - London Digger.

placeholder image — Children’s ‘Wonders of the World’ Campaign - London Digger.

The first Children’s ‘Wonders of the World’ exhibitions celebrate children's natural curiosity and remind parents how important good eyesight is for kids to keep exploring the everyday wonders around them.

"Children see the world in a way adults often forget – full of magic, mystery and wonder,” says Professor Sam Wass, a child psychologist and neuroscientist. ‘Good vision is essential to this journey of discovery. It helps children explore, ask questions and learn through play, all of which are essential to children's development.’

Research among 130 six and seven-year-olds in London reveals the places where children are most likely to spot their top wonders - with the beach (70%), the garden (64%), the park (52%) and the school playground (50%) ranking highest.

Nearly one in five(18%) of the 200 parents surveyed in London said this happens on average five times a day, totalling 1,825 moments of wonder per year. Over a third (35%) report often being late because their child is busy inspecting an object. That’s 156 million times annually that parents are delayed because of their children discovering wonders.

Professor Sam Wass, Child Psychologist and Neuroscientist.

Nonetheless, over two thirds (69%) of parents in London said they would be concerned if their child stopped pointing out these everyday wonders. As a result, nearly one in five (18%) said this would be among the reasons they would book an eye test for their child, as well as if they were rubbing their eyes frequently (53%) or struggling to read or write (46%).

Sarah Joyce, Director of Optometry at Specsavers, said: "Being able to see clearly is vital to children as they learn about the world – around 80% of learning in school is visual. But around one in five children under the age of 10 have sight conditions that can get in the way of all that wonder.

"Conditions such as long or short sightedness, astigmatism or a squint can often be treated more effectively if they are picked up early, so regular eye tests from the age of around four are essential or sooner if you think they are having any problems. The great news is, for children under 16, the NHS will cover the full cost of the eye test."