Challenges and Opportunities Emerging in the Research of Participatory Education for Young Children

Dear Colleagues,

Childhood and youth are two groups of special relevance in the field of social and school education. Historically, both groups have been interpreted and attended to from the perspective of the problem or conflict. In recent years, however, it has gained strength as an active agent and from the perspective of human capital (Casas, 2010; Winstone et al., 2014), which opens new horizons for research and socio-educational intervention. Specifically, there are two areas that should draw our attention, due to the development and prominence that they are currently having in our closest context, we are talking about autonomy and participation in childhood and youth.

On the one hand, if we refer to autonomy and participation in childhood, it is inevitable to approach a conception of autonomy and participation as a right (Novella, 2012; Tonnucci, 2009: Trilla and Novella, 2011) and as a projection of a type of citizen/citizen that we expect in a future society (Save the Children, 2013). There are various expressions of autonomy and child participation that surround us, projected from schools, municipal councils, and toy libraries (Barcenas, 2016; Save the Children, 2013; Tonucci, 2015). However, what are its effects? Are they really having an impact on the formation of future citizens, promoting participation and commitment? Under what conditions is this participation taking place? Is it getting more autonomy? Are there weaknesses and opportunities? What are the challenges for the future? What can we improve? These and other questions can and must be answered through rigorous investigation work.

From the concept of autonomy and participation as a right, the promotion of this line is allowing us to analyze good practices and propose socio-educational strategies that gather the voices of children and adolescents and encourage their active participation in public contexts. Both pillars become a lever to respond to emerging socio-educational problems through dialogue, respect and recognition of differences and in the search for consensus and social transformation. In the last years, different research has been carried out to collect the experiences and good practice that promote the active participation in the social context of children and adolescents. In this context, this Special Issue covers research works that have been carried out in the field of sustainable active participation of youth and children in the public sphere.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Naiara Berasategi Sancho
Dr. Nahia Idoiaga-Mondragon
Dr. Amaia Eiguren Munitis
Guest Editors

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• children
• youth
• participation
• active citizenship
• human rights