In 2012, The Children’s Society (UK) published ‘Missing Out’, the results of a study which examined the relationship between children’s wellbeing and their possession, lack of, or want for, ten common material items or experiences they feel they need for ‘a normal kind of life’.

The indicator is included in the Children's Plan 2019-23 and was introduced in the 2018 Jersey School Survey. The list of agreed items includes a smartphone; the right kind of shoes / trainers to fit in with peers; a garden or nearby park to play in; smart TV / i-pad or equivalent device; the right kind of clothes to fit in with peers; a car available to the family when needed; trips out with the family at least once a month; at least one holiday away from home with the family each year; pocket money to spend on yourself each week; money that you can save each month.

In 2021, 23% of children in Jersey, reported that they didn’t have, but would like, two or more items from the list of ten common items or experiences.  These findings reflect the 2021 results.

The UK study found that children who lacked two or more material items were significantly more likely to be unhappy than those who lacked none. Children lacking five or more items were over five times more likely to have low levels of wellbeing. The four items for those children that were linked to the greatest levels of low wellbeing were: clothes to fit in with others; smart TV / i-pad or equivalent device; access to a garden or outdoor space; and a family car.