Lucy Bassett of the Humanitarian Collaborative co-authored a blog with the Brookings Institution called “Young children’s participation: Ways to engage and what’s needed to do it well.” There is growing evidence that children’s participation—even the very young—has important benefits, both for children and for their communities. Participation can build children’s confidence, coping skills, and sense of agency—especially in crisis contexts—while also strengthening social cohesion and democratic processes. Despite global recognition of its importance, challenges persist in understanding and operationalizing child participation.

This commentary highlights two promising, age-appropriate approaches to facilitate the participation of young children: storytelling through imaginative play and photovoice. Both methods show that with time, trust-building, and adult training, even the youngest children can express their perspectives and shape more responsive programs and policies.

Read more HERE.