A democratic learning process: When young children under 12 years of age in child welfare services express their wishes for participation

Abstract

This study examined the opinions of 116 Finnish children (mainly aged under 12 years), who were child welfare clients in 2021 regarding how their voices and needs should be heard and met by employees of this system. An abductive thematic analysis revealed that the nature of their participation is connected to Amartya Sen's capability approach. Children considered their rights and capabilities, the possibility to make choices and being safeguarded as important. We found that encounters with employees introduced young children to how society views them and how they can impact the course of their own lives.