Towards a Theory of Children's Participation

Thomas, Nigel

doi:10.1163/092755607x206489

Cited by 353 publications

(161 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Although not representative of all children subject to case conference in the time period, this criterion was chosen to broadly reflect the remit of the support service (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16), and to reflect an age range where, on the whole, children and young people could be presumed to have a view. The selection criterion was given to the Lead Officer for Child Care and Protection in the area who was asked to select a sample from the numbers available.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Voice of the Child in Child Protection: Whose Voice?

Bruce

2014

Social Sciences

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Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child outlines the rights of children to express their views in decisions affecting their lives. There is further evidence to support the positive benefits for children who are afforded this right. However, evidence shows that despite legislative and policy frameworks to support this, repeated messages from inquiry reports highlight failures to do so. This paper draws upon research undertaken in Scotland but the findings of the study are relevant across the UK and beyond. Child protection documentation including reports and case conference minutes were analysed to assess to what extent the child's views were presented to, and considered in, decision making forums. In particular the study considers how the child's views and wishes are represented in writing, and highlights the ways which professionals filtered and interpreted the child's view rather than presented it in its pure form. Messages have emerged identifying a need for workers to be clear about the factors which influence their practice with children. These include the value they place on children's participation, the skills and confidence needed to engage children with complex needs and the impact of competing tensions. One example of such a tension is that between the needs of busy workers, and those of children who are potentially involved in a range of decision making processes.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The findings of the study indicate that this may still hold true today. Thomas [15] discusses what are described as basic flaws in participatory work with children and young people. Citing the work of Cleaver and Mosse he identifies the "adult reasons" and "adult agendas" involved.…”

Section: Child's Viewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Voice of the Child in Child Protection: Whose Voice?

Bruce

2014

Social Sciences

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“…21), citing Lansdown (2005): 'Research shows that the child is able to form views from the youngest age, even when she or he may be unable to express them verbally'. Human rights discourse embraced and amplified these new constructions of the child as subject (Thomas, 2007). This entails that the substantive content of participation rights respect the autonomy of the child, with 'participation' requiring something more than mere involvement or consultation.…”

Section: Participation Rights and Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

A Clash of Conventions? Participation, Power and the Rights of Disabled Children

Sandland

2017

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This article considers the neglected topic of the relationship between the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with regard to the participation rights of disabled children. It analyses key articles in both conventions and considers relevant general comments from both convention committees (the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), and their interpretation by academic contributors. The article argues that much work on this topic fails to develop an adequate understanding of power relations, and that the 'social model of disability' which underpins the disabilities convention, when applied to 'childhood' (as opposed to 'children') suggests that the implications of that convention for the participation rights of all children, not only disabled children, are profound. This is because the disabilities convention rejects the relevance of tests of capacity and 'best interests' for disabled adults, for reasons which are equally germane to disabled children, and children in general. The article concludes with discussion of the difficulties in implementing the insights derived from the analysis of the disabilities convention in substantive law in the absence of a right to freedom from age discrimination for children, and suggests other, less far-reaching, reforms that could be made this notwithstanding.

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“…Il a été heureusement vitalisé par le nouveau paradigme (James et Prout, 1990 ;Qvortrup et al, 1994 ;Corsaro, 1997 ;James, Jenks et Prout, 1998) qui considère l'enfance comme une construction sociale, et l'enfant, comme un acteur social. La notion d'acteur est devenue un lieu commun dans la littérature sur la « participation » de l'enfant (Sinclair, 2004 ;Thomas, 2007 ;Hinton, 2008 ;Tisdall, 2008). On y utilise des échelles censées mesurer la participation (Hart, 1992 ;Treseder, 1997 ;O'Kane, 2003), tenant pour acquise la notion de « l'enfant acteur », sans théorie de l'action explicite.…”

Section: Nps Vol 23 N Ounclassified

Favoriser l’intervention participative à travers la réflexivité

Stoecklin

2011

nps

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La Convention relative aux droits de l’enfant lui confère le droit d’être entendu, sous certaines conditions, lorsqu’est prise une décision l’affectant. Les méthodes de prise en compte de son opinion doivent donc être adaptées à ses capacités évolutives. À travers la comparaison de deux modèles systémiques sous l’angle de la réflexivité qu’ils favorisent chez des adolescents, l’article contribue à la théorie de l’acteur social et à l’intervention participative.

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Towards a Theory of Children's Participation

Cited by 353 publications

References 16 publications

The Voice of the Child in Child Protection: Whose Voice?

The Voice of the Child in Child Protection: Whose Voice?

A Clash of Conventions? Participation, Power and the Rights of Disabled Children

Favoriser l’intervention participative à travers la réflexivité

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