scholarly journals “It’s fun but at the same time difficult”: Experiences of and perspectives on children’s participation in decision-making processes in Physical Education and Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-147
Author(s):  
Matilda Lindberg ◽  
Susanna Hedenborg
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
School Age ◽  
Important Conclusion ◽  
Compulsory School ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Video Observations ◽  
Preschool Class ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Children's Participation

Swedish compulsory school education rests upon the foundation of democracy, and the Curriculum for the compulsory school, preschool class and school-age educare 2011 (Skolverket, 2018) stresses that children should have the opportunity to take initiatives. Research shows that children are not able to have any influence on activities in Physical Education and Health (PEH). Usually, they have to follow the teacher’s instructions and reproduce specific movement patterns. This article discusses a research project that challenged traditional ways of teaching PEH, in order to give 10-year-old children the opportunity to have an influence on PEH. The project involved 10 circus lessons in which the children were encouraged to explore movement and put their own ideas into practice. In terms of theory, the approach is based on Hart’s (1997) Ladder of Children’s Participation. Data were collected through participant observations, video observations, interviews, and a field diary. The results show that the children participated in varying degrees and experienced attempts to increase their influence in different ways: Some found it fun and free, while others found it difficult and boring. One important conclusion is that influence and participation need to be practised – both by children and by teachers. Circus activities, because of the playfulness and creativity involved, may be very suited to practising influence and participation..

Children’s Participation in the Decision-Making Process During Hospitalization: an observational study

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 583-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Runeson ◽  
Inger Hallström ◽  
Gunnel Elander ◽  
Göran Hermerén
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Children's Participation ◽  
Degree Of Participation

Twenty-four children (aged 5 months to 18 years) who were admitted to a university hospital were observed for a total of 135 hours with the aim of describing their degree of participation in decisions concerning their own care. Grading of their participation was made by using a 5-point scale. An assessment was also made of what was considered as optimal participation in each situation. The results indicate that children are not always allowed to participate in decision making to the extent that is considered optimal. In no case was it judged that a child participated in or was forced to make a decision that was too difficult for the child. The interactions between children, parents and staff were also described in connection with discussions and decision-making processes. This showed that parents do not always support their children in difficult situations and that health care staff often inform children about what is going to happen without presenting alternatives or asking for their views. Staff may, however, find themselves facing an ethical conflict in deciding between supporting a child’s view or following hospital routine. It is of great importance that children are looked upon as potentially autonomous individuals and that staff members realize that one of their core duties is to facilitate children’s participation in decision making concerning their health care.

scholarly journals Pupils as subjects or objects: Policy changes in the area of pupils influence

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-29
Author(s):  
Linda Eriksson ◽  
Linda Eriksson
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
The Political ◽  
School Age ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Compulsory School ◽  
Empirical Results ◽  
Preschool Class ◽  
Policy Shift ◽  
Swedish School

The aim of this article is to describe and analyse how policy changes in the three latest Swedish compulsory school, preschool class, and school-age educare curricula affect the political goal of pupil influence. This is done with an interest in implications for utterances of power relations and for didactical considerations for living and learning democracy in school. This article analyses pupil influence by using theories of democracy, power, and didactics. The method used is content analysis. The empirical results show that pupil influence in the curricula is linked to seven concepts: democracy, value, norm, rights, responsibility, influence, participation. Our conclusion is that only small differences exist in terms of the central concepts mentioned in the curricula linked to pupil influence. Secondly, we found a policy shift with respect to the pupils, i.e., viewing pupils as subjects or objects. Thirdly, we found a shift in how learning is viewed in the curricula and the type of didactical questions that are in focus, which illuminates a change in utterances of power relations that challenges possibilities for living and learning democracy in Swedish school education.

Georgian Parents’ Attitudes towards Inclusion of Children and Adolescents in Physical Activities and Sports

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ketevan Inasaridze
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Parental Attitudes ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Material Base ◽  
Sport Education ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Children's Participation ◽  
Attitudes Towards Inclusion

Introduction: The study refers problem of children's and adolescents’ physical activity (PA) that affects their health, cognitive and social development. Parental attitudes towards inclusion of children in PA and sports and their perception of benefits and barriers of children’s participation in PA and sports determine parental support.Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine how parents of children and adolescents in Georgia perceive benefits and barriers of PA and sports; how they assess existing material base and services of PA and sports at schools and sports’ sections; which sports they think are appropriate and recommended for their children to take part and from what age levels; what is their perception of sport education and sport carrier for their children; to investigate the effect on these study questions of the demographic factors as are parents gender, children's gender, education levels of parents and family incomeMethod: 74 parents of children aged from 6 to 17 years were randomly recruited for the cross-sectional study. Parental attitudes towards participation of children and adolescents in PA and sports were studied by the structured questionnaire with closed, multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The attitudes of parents were analyzed according to demographic factors.Results: The study showed limitations in parental awareness of the benefits of PA and sports for children, about appropriate age of children to enter particular sports, about existence and necessity of psychological testing in professional sport orientation. The study revealed parents' recommendations to improve lessons of physical education and sports at schools by creating an appropriate environment, adding more sports at schools, enhancing teachers’ qualification and motivation, and motivating children to be engaged in PA and sports. One of the most prominent barriers for children to enter desired sports was financial-economic problems of families. Parents mentioned as negative factors for approval of sport education and profession the lack of children’s motivation and impossibility of career advancement. They considered as positive factors the opportunity for nurturing successful athletes, gaining pedagogical experience and having a healthy lifestyle. The parental gender and child gender were important factors determining children’s participation in PA and sports. It was found gender stereotypes regarding PA and sports. Parents with higher socio-economic status positively influenced children’s inclusion in PA and sports.Conclusions: The study highlighted groups of parents defined by studied demographic factors that require awareness raising with differential approaches regarding perception of benefits and barriers of children's and adolescents' inclusion in PA and sports. It was revealed the pressing need to develop and implement governmental projects of financial support incorporating provision of better sports' infrastructure, training of coaches and teachers of physical education and sports to make them better professionals, making sports classes and sections more financially affordable for parents of middle and low socio-economic statuses; develop sports’ professional orientation for children by incorporating sport psychology professionals.

International Models of Child Participation in Family Law Proceedings following Parental Separation / Divorce

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Taylor ◽  
Robyn Fitzgerald ◽  
Tamar Morag ◽  
Asha Bajpai ◽  
Anne Graham
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Family Law ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Parental Separation ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Children's Participation ◽  
Resolution Processes

This article reports on the findings of a 2009 survey conducted under the auspices of the Childwatch International Research Network about how children’s participation rights, as set out in Articles 12 and 13 of the UNCRC, are respected in private family law proceedings internationally. Court-based and alternative dispute resolution processes and the roles of relevant professionals engaged in child-inclusive practices are considered, as well as religious, indigenous and customary law methods of engaging with children. The findings from the 13 participating countries confirm an increasing international commitment to enhancing children’s participation in family law decision-making, but depict a wide variety of approaches being used to achieve this. Case studies from Australia, India, Israel and New Zealand are included to illustrate differing models of children’s participation currently in use in decision-making processes following parental separation.

scholarly journals Análisis y modificación de los juegos y deportes tradicionales para su adecuada aplicación en el ámbito educativo (Analysis and modification of traditional games and sports towards their correct use in educational contexts)

Retos ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Antonio Méndez-Giménez ◽  
Javier Fernández-Río
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Children's Participation

Este trabajo sostiene la idea de modificar los juegos y deportes tradicionales al objeto de facilitar al alumnado experiencias realmente educativas y significativas. En ese sentido, se presenta el análisis estructural-funcional de la tradición lúdica y su manipulación didáctica como estrategia que permite ensalzar su potencial didáctico en las clases de Educación Física, y como recurso para mantener los juegos más presentes en las prácticas habituales del alumnado. Se revisan las estructuras de cada categoría de juegos tradicionales y se apuntan cambios pertinentes para su implementación, considerando las características de los niños y las limitaciones del contexto educativo. Asimismo, se justifica el empleo de materiales autoconstruidos para dar respuesta a ese reajuste, potenciar la participación y despertar la motivación por su práctica. Palabra clave: Juegos tradicionales, Juegos populares, Educación Física, Materiales autoconstruidos.Abstract: This article supports the idea of modifying traditional games and sports in order to provide students with significant educational experiences. First, a structural-functional analysis of traditional games is presented. Second, a teaching strategy to enhance their potential in physical education classes is introduced. Third, an approach to make traditional games more vivid for students is offered. The structure of each of the traditional games’ categories is revised, and a few changes are introduced bearing in mind the children’s characteristics and the school context’s limitations. Finally, homemade materials are presented as a perfect tool for these changes, and to foster children’s participation and motivation on traditional games.Key words: Traditional games, Folk games, Physical Education, Homemade materials.

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