‘We want Scotland to be the best place in the world for children to grow up’

1. ‘We want Scotland to be the best place in the world for children to grow up’ Kay Tisdall, k.tisdall@ed.ac.uk Programme Director of MSc in Childhood Studies, University of Edinburgh; Co-Director CRFR

2. “This Government’s vision for children and young people is clear: We want Scotland to be the best place in the world for them to grow up. A place where rights are respected and where children can access all the opportunities and support they need, when they need it.” Minister for Children and Young People, Aileen Campbell

4. ‘Children are the wealth of the nation’ (Tanzania) ‘A tree should be bent while it is still young’ (South Africa) ‘You don’t have to be old to be wise’ (Nigeria) ‘The egg should not be smarter than the duck’ (Vietnam) ‘Children should be seen and not heard’ (UK) • Turn to someone close to you … preferably someone you don’t know yet or don’t know well. Introduce yourself and discuss: • What ideas about children and childhoods are within each proverb? • What are the implications of these ideas, for children’s participation?

6. Article 12(1) UN Convention on the Rights of the Child States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

7. What do we mean by participation? “This term has evolved and is now widely used to describe ongoing processes, which include information-sharing and dialogue between children and adults based on mutual respect, and in which children can learn how their views and those of adults are taken into account and shape the outcome of such processes.” UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2009) General Comment No. 12, p. 3.

8. From the UNCRC General Comment No 12 (participation) • Children are presumed to capacity • No age limit • Children need not have comprehensive knowledge • Information is a precondition • Right to express own views, not others • From the UNCRC General Comment No 5 (early childhood, on participation) • From the earliest stage in ways appropriate to the child’s capacities, best interests and rights to protection • Anchored in children’s daily life • Adults should show ‘patience and creativity by adapting their expectations to a young child’s interests, levels of understanding and preferred ways of communicating’.

9. Quality Statement 3.4I include the children when planning activities and take account their views. In discussion with someone nearby and thinking of your own work: Can you think of an example, where you met this quality statement? What made children’s participation successful in this example? How would you evidence this?

10. Mythbusters … • Article 12 of the UNCRC means children have the right to choose • Children can’t have rights without responsibilities • Children’s rights, especially their participation rights, ignore adults’/parents’ rights

11. Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill? “This Government’s vision for children and young people is clear: We want Scotland to be the best place in the world for them to grow up. A place where rights are respected and where children can access all the opportunities and support they need, when they need it.” Minister for Children and Young People, Aileen Campbell

12. More information on CRFR opportunities .. CRFR in general www.crfr.ac.uk CPD courses on research and consultation with children and young people … http://www.crfr.ac.uk/eventsandtraining/ MSc/Diploma in Childhood Studies http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/pgtcs