The Century of the Participating Child

Engaging children in social participation naturally requires a loving, caring and respectful pedagogical environment. By exhibiting and modelling these attitudes, adults can provide children with the sense of trust and safety necessary for the give and take of participation. Developed as a central concept of modern pedagogy, participation could avoid the historical, social and personal pitfalls of infantilization. Participation bridges the gap between &s;Youthland&s; and the rest of society, while still respecting children&s;s distinct individual and social needs. Most modern theories of child and adolescent development emphasise the role that young people play as co-constructors of their own environment. In its turn the social environment has a significant influence on the developmental process. A major pedagogical implication of this scientific consensus is that the concepts of culture and society can no longer be seen as static entities, to which young people should be prepared during their stay in the waiting room of a separated Youthland.

Children's Rights and Participation · History · Psychology · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics