Easier to Say Than to Do: Children’s Participation in Events with Adults

From the introduction to this book:

“[This book] is addressed to adults who have understood that they cannot speak about what children feel or think without considering and incorporating their very voices. And, of course, it will also be useful for children to keep watch so conditions in these events meet the conditions for a “real and effective” participation... This material wants to contribute precisely to what many adults frequently hear, read, and say: children have a right to express themselves freely in every aspect which affects them - in other words, they have a right to participate.”

The book is written within the Latin American context of cultural and historical discourse on children's rights, as stated here: "The discourse on children’s protagonism began in Latin America. Its sources can be found in peoples’ movements that grouped different organisations which struggle to improve their life conditions." It is organised in three chapters, which can be viewed as steps towards increased involvement of children as social actors. The first one discusses the current approaches and ideas on children’s participation; the second refers to the myths around children’s participation in events with adults, and the third chapter provides guidelines, ideas, and suggestions that are focused on providing conditions for effective and active participation of children.

Contents include:

• I. Children's participation: approaches and conceptions


1. Children’s participation from a child rights based approach
2. Participation as an exercise of power
3. Children’s participation and protagonism


• II. Revision of myths on Children's participation in events with adults


1. Identifying myths regarding children’s participation in events with adults
2. Revising and analysing myths on children’s participation
3. Myths and actual realities
4. Challenges and demands in the myths


• III. Guidelines to promote children’s participation in events with adults


1. Make sure our approaches and ideas on children’s participation are considering a child rights based approach
2. Incorporating children’s opinions in the planning of the event
3. Acknowledging, respecting, and promoting democratic processes to elect children’s representatives
4. Reflect upon children’s and adults’ roles in events
5. Consider a methodology that favours and promotes participation and which is based on the diversity and experiences of its participants
6. Ensure an inclusive and friendly environment for all
7. Consider the specific needs and interests of children when preparing logistics and materials
8. A facilitation which organises and leads to a participative process of joint construction
9. An evaluation which considers children’s opinions and recovers lessons from a participative perspective