"As we put an end to this strange, dark year, we were delighted to sit down with some of the wisest, most brilliant people we know: 17 kids from across the country. Together, they reflected on what lies ahead and shared their hopes and dreams for the New Year. If their responses are any indication, our future is looking brighter already. Below, they talk about the hugs they’ve been missing, the good change they’ve been craving, and their dreams for putting this pandemic behind us once and for all.
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“I would make the coronavirus disappear, and people wouldn’t get sick anymore. We would be able to go visit our grandmas and be able to hug everyone. I want everything to go back to normal. I want to go back to the movie theater with my dad and back to school to see all my friends.”
— Ella, 7, Hawaii
We would be able to go visit our grandmas and be able to hug everyone.
“In 2021, I hope Joe Biden works really hard to stop the virus and everybody tries their best to help. I hope everyone can see their friends and family and go on airplanes if someone they love is far away. I also wish everyone will be treated equally. I want everyone to feel safe and not to worry, and to stop hurting animals.”
— Emmeline, 6, Illinois
“Next year, I hope to be 9, and then it will only be like three more years until my voice changes. I also hope to move into a mansion in 2021 and be on the news.”
— Daniel, 8, Illinois
“I really wish people would understand how they hurt animals and wildlife with pollution and trash, and I wish someone would make a law to stop poaching. Will the president do that? That’s basically why I voted for him. I also wish enough people would get the COVID vaccine, so I can go back to school. Quarantine is killing me slowly.”
— Arian, 7, Illinois
I really wish people would understand how they hurt animals and wildlife with pollution and trash, and I wish someone would make a law to stop poaching.
“I want to touch things other people have been touching. I also wish I could make a machine and leave it on, and it would suck up the coronavirus and shoot it out to the moon. And then it would explode.”
— Jack, 6, Illinois
“2021 looks hopeful. I want to do fun things and see my family. I want people to be nicer to each other. I don’t like bullies. I wish superheroes were real so they could save people from bad things.”
— Cameron, 8, Illinois
Source: @erinkonrath
“Next year, I hope we can all hug each other, like my friends again.”
— NaLani, 4, Illinois
“I would like to see peace spread over the world and for people to stop hurting each other. I hope that next year everyone will help each other and believe the doctors who really know what they’re talking about. Then, we can all see our friends and cousins again.”
— Theo, 6, California
“Well, my idea isn’t really just for 2021. This should happen every year, really, that you can go back to January 1 and you can do the year over in fast-motion so you can improve on yourself and things because now you kind of know better.”
— Ella, 10, Illinois
I hope that we can create peace, like ending racism, being helpful and kind, and not worrying about what other people do.
“That my sister and I get along. That school doesn’t close and that coronavirus goes away.”
— Sammy, 5, Michigan
“I hope that we can create peace, like ending racism, being helpful and kind, and not worrying about what other people do. And I hope we can always be ourselves so that other people’s abilities, traits, or actions don’t affect us.”
— R., 11, Illinois
“I want to be with Jami and Shannon, and we’re going to have a dance party and play games. I’d like to see my ballet friends again. [Also], I would make it snow forever and be a snow fairy. I would help the world that way.”
— Ellie, 4, Ohio
“If I could make anything happen in 2021, it would be for climate change to stop. If we stop doing this now, there is a chance we can turn climate change around. If we want our Earth to be preserved for future generations, we have to take action.”
— Lucy, 11, Illinois
“I want no coronavirus and hope to go back to school in 2021. I’d like to play football, boxing, and basketball because it was all cancelled. I’d like to be able to not wear masks and see my friends and grandparents. Next year, I wish the world will become a nice place with love and kindness. Yes, I hope everyone can be happy with each other and treated fairly. I’d also like to go on vacation to Disney World and not be afraid to get sick.”
— Nolan, 8, Illinois
Next year, I wish the world will become a nice place with love and kindness.
“I wish for the virus to be gone in 2021, and I really hope we can go back to museums, especially the children’s museum and the aquarium. Also, I wish to be married to Violet [big brother’s classmate].”
— Shea, 5, Illinois
“That I can keep going to school and go to zoo camp this summer. I also want to see Nana’s decorations at Christmas again.”
— Corinne, 8, Michigan
“I want the coronavirus to go away forever in 2021 so no one will get sick. I want to be at school in-person because the computer makes my eyes hurt and I could actually be with my friends.”
— Mae, 6, Illinois
Tell us what your kids are hoping for in 2021 in the comments or on Instagram.