Kids dream of happy marriage

Children may hope to one day be rich and famous, but most of all they hope to achieve a secure and happy marriage, according to a recent study.

A survey conducted for the National Lottery asked more than 1,500 adults what they dreamed of as a child, discovering that more than 57 per cent wanted to be happily married.

Almost a third of women said they most hoped for wedded bliss and one in five men shared the same aspiration as a child.

"It is positive to note that the dream for a family is still powerful enough to beat the desire to be David Beckham or a Spice Girl," said Don Slater from the London School of Economics, which carried out the research.

Ending up in a happy marriage topped being a pop star and an astronaut among the childhood fantasies polled.

Becoming a teacher proved to be the third most popular goal among kids, as more than a quarter of adults now between the ages of 18 and 29 dreamt of this career.

"It seems the latest generation of childhood dreamers are not solely concentrating on fame and celebrity, choosing realistic goals which can be achieved with hard work, such as becoming a doctor or teacher," Mr Slater said.

Just under 30 per cent of respondents most wanted friends and family to achieve success, while more than 27 per cent wanted financial security. Just six percent wanted to be rich and famous.

Figures release last month by the Office for National Statistics found that in 2006, the divorce rate in the UK fell to its lowest level in 22 years to 12.2 divorces per 1000 married men and women.