Development of working relationships with children

Critically discuss some of the ways in which a range of children’s services can be shaped by the participation of children. What is the role of the practitioner in enabling participation?
In fact, according to Wright, Turner, Clay, & Mills, (2006), it is evident today that there is increased acceptance and participation of children in the development of children services and social care. Indeed, listen to young people and children can play a very important role in the planning, commissioning, and delivery of children services.

One way of improving various children’s services by participation of children is, according to Foley & Leverett (2008), listening to children’s views and considering them as part of decision-making. Apparently, children are considered to have ideas and views that are unique to their experience; this means that their contribution to decision-making is critical and legitimate. For instance, in order to improve children’s educational standards and opportunities, it would be prudent to listen to their ideas and views with regards to which teaching methods they think would best work for them, what factors result in truancy and school dropouts, how to better promote inclusion of girls, how to improve attendance rates, whether or not the curriculum is relevant, and how to better ensure effective discipline and good behavior.

Further, children can also participate in improving their services through advocacy, peer representation, evaluation of services that are meant for them, use of media and publicity, managing their own institutions, for instance, schools, and analysis and development of policy (Wright et al. 2006). For this participation to be successful and useful, it is important that their involvement is directly linked to their own experience-first hand. It is the role and duty of practitioners to enable the participation of children, by directly working with them through listening and responding to their voices. Further, it is also the role of practitioners to provide favorable environments where all young children can feel safe, powerful and confident; this will ensure that the children have space and time to express their ideas and opinion in the form that best suits them. In fact, it is up to the practitioners to develop and nurture listening cultures that offer opportunities for children to participate in decision making on issues that affect them directly (Lansdown 2001).