According to a survey by consumer goods giant Unilever, Indian children in the age group of 8-12 years are surprisingly more knowledgeable and concerned about global issues, such as climate change, food waste and world hunger, than children in the US and the UK. They are also portraying an unshakeable and vibrant optimism for their own future, and even for the future of the environment.

Harish Shetty, a well-known social psychiatrist from Mumbai, believes that the trend is evident in the way Indians are playing cricket now. "When Gavaskar used to bat, we used to aim for a draw," he says. "Now, look at youngsters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They are going in for the kill."

In emerging markets like India, the outlook towards a better future is being driven by upward economic, social and technological changes. In contrast, in Western markets, children are significantly more optimistic about the future of the world than their parents. Says Jitendra Nagpal, a New Delhi-based consultant psychiatrist with special interest in adolescence and early childhood disorders, "From the time they are born, Indian kids are exposed to diverse cultures which gives them a 360-degree view of life. Then on one hand you have heritage and on the other you have modernity. These juxtapositions help shape the world views of children and prepare them to face life."

The survey also takes into account the views of parents. In India, nine out of 10 parents are optimistic about their child's future compared to only six in the UK and seven in the US. There is also a mismatch between optimism of parents and children in developed markets vis-a-vis emerging markets. Children in India seem to be more influenced by their parents' attitudes. "Americans think they are the centre of the universe and they need not know what's happening in far-flung corners of Earth," says social commentator and brand guru Santosh Desai. "But since India is developing and growing, Indians want to be on the world stage. So, they keep their eyes and ears open and wait for a chance to react to everything. The children learn this from their parents and follow suit."

When it boils down to the environment, India comes up trumps again with 71% Indian parents optimistic about the future of the environment compared to only 37% of British parents and 46% American parents. Children too follow a similar trend with Indian kids showing greater hopefulness about the environment than Western ones. "But children have a tendency to forget things fast," says tiger conservationist and natural historian Valmik Thapar. "It would be interesting to know whether they would be still equally concerned about climate change when they grow up."

However, children too have a lesson or two up their sleeves for their parents. They surprise their parents with how much they actually know and care about the world's major problems (seven out of 10 parents agree on this). And, they inspire parents to live not only healthier but also greener lives. "The ideas about nature and the environment that children bring home from the classroom can have a deep influence on parents," says Christopher Hanvey, GM of Genesis Global School at Noida. "I also know of parents who have quit smoking and started exercising after they have had their first child."