Young Children as Co-Researchers: Authentic Partnership in an Early Childhood Context

Young Children as Co-Researchers: Authentic Partnership in an Early Childhood Context
Book Chapter
Catherine Kelly, Fionnuala Waldron, Thérèse Dooley
Pushing the Boundaries of Human Rights Education, 2023 [Routledge]
Abstract
Under Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), children have the right to express their views freely and to have those views given due consideration in accordance with their age and maturity; this right also applies in the context of research. Premised on changing conceptions of children and childhoods and on the impact of Article 12 of the UNCRC, the active participation of children in research has become standard practice for researchers whose work is focused on children’s lives and the complex nature of such practice is well-documented. However, age remains a limiting factor and less attention has been given to the idea of very young children as co-researchers and to the methodological and ethical tensions that might ensue from such an approach. Guided by a children’s rights framework, this chapter examines the idea of engaging with young children (5–6 years) as co-researchers in a classroom context. Ultimately, the chapter argues that, while the idea of children as co-researchers in the context of early childhood education is a challenging one, through the use of innovative approaches which prioritise children’s participation, perceived barriers relating to age and maturity can be substantially overcome, resulting in research findings that are grounded in children’s perspectives and experiences.