Children think that being talented refers only to the skills of X-Factor contestants or footballers, a survey published today suggests.

A third of 6 to 18-year-olds said they thought that people who could sing were talented. One in ten said talent meant being good at football, and 8 per cent at dancing. However, only 1 per cent thought being intelligent or good at school work meant they were talented.

The poll of 1,000 young people, commissioned by the Talent and Enterprise Taskforce, found that children did not recognise talent in themselves because they equated it with celebrity. Sandra Scott, a child psychiatrist, said: “Our society is dominated by an obsession with celebrity. The poll shows what I have frequently encountered in my work with children, that they most value those skills that they think will help them become famous or get on TV.”

Despite their limited understanding of talent, children did mention, when prompted, that they are good at, or proud of, many other things, such as cooking, gardening, telling jokes and helping others. The taskforce has organised a festival, Shine, in schools across England next month. It aims to celebrate the talents of all students.

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