What does participation mean in childcare

Being mindful of power. Ethical considerations. Levels of participation Children may participate in a range of decision-making activities across a number of levels of involvement. The five levels are: Children are listened to. Children are supported in expressing their views. Children are involved in decision-making processes. Children share power and responsibility for decision making. Meaningful participation. Practice considerations: Clarify the purpose of participation. Avoid tokenism through adequate staffing, resources and knowledge.

Provide genuine feedback to children, including limitations of involvement. Plan and prepare Finally, the key aspect of integrating child participation processes into organisations is planning and preparation. Information for practitioners. Practitioners who are engaging with children for participation purposes should consider: What skills and knowledge are necessary to meaningfully engage with children?

Are there any limiting perceptions of children that need to be challenged? What can help to build positive relationships with children? When working with children, how can we ensure we meet children where they are currently at? Skills and knowledge Meaningful child participation relies on practitioners having the skills and confidence to engage children in this process Gondek et al. Practice considerations: Identify limiting beliefs of children as innocent, vulnerable or lacking capacity.

Recognise the valuable insights, knowledge and skills children have to offer. Positive relationships with children Child participation relies on the ability of adults to build positive relationships with children G-Force; Mannion, Practice considerations: Be proactive in listening to children and genuinely listen.

Organise participation settings that are comfortable, safe and child-friendly. Meet children where they are at Practitioners need to understand where children are at, in terms of their age, development and capacity. Key strategies may include: storytelling visual arts technology creative play.

Use age-appropriate communication. Further reading and References. Hear by right: Standards framework for the participation of children and young people. Leicester: The National Youth Agency. Available here. Bessell, S. Canberra: Australian National University.

Cavet, J. The participation of children and young people in decisions about UK service development. Clark, A. Listening to young children: Why and how we listen to children? Involving children and young people: Participation guidelines. Perth: Commissioner for Children and Young People. Edbrooke-Childs, J. The relationship between child- and parent-reported shared decision making and child-, parent-, and clinician-reported treatment outcome in routinely collected child mental health services data.

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 21 2 , — Harris, P. Hart, R. Hervatin, M. Practical strategies for practitioners wishing to engage children in service delivery.

Gondek, D. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 24, — Johnson, V. Steps to engaging young children in research. Volume 1: The guide. Kellett, M. Engaging with children and young people Background Briefing Series, no. Kirby, P. Building a culture of participation: Involving children and young people in policy, service planning, delivery and evaluation.

Lansdown, G. Oak Foundation. Mannion, G. Discourse: studies in the cultural politics of education, 28 3 , McDowall, J.

Are we listening? The need to facilitate participation in decision-making by children and young people in out-of-home care. Developing practice, 44, Report on consultations with socially excluded children and young people. Engaging children and young people in your organisation. Oliver, L. To improve our ability to nurture the participation knowledge and potential of vulnerable young people. Percy-Smith, B. Oxon: Routledge. Phillips, L. Global Studies of Childhood, 4 2 , 59— Powell, M.

Childhood, 16 1 , — Shier, H. Sinclar, R. Participation in practice: Making it meaningful, effective and sustainable. Children and society, 18 2 , pp. Tisdall, E. The transformation of participation? Global Studies of Childhood, 3 2 , — Treseder, P. Empowering children and young people: Training Manual.

Promoting involvement in decision-making. London: Save the Children. Where We Work. Child Participation. Latest Stories. The Karate girls protecting themselves from violence. The Philippines teen fighting online sexual exploitation. Article 12 says that every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award provides a framework for pupil participation based on the Convention. Adults are encouraged to work with children and young people in an inclusive way to ensure that their views are heard and valued in decision-making.

The experience of participation should be relevant, informed, voluntary, safe, respectful and transparent. Children must not be pressured into participatory activities and independent advocacy support should be sought where appropriate.