Young Children as Citizens explores how young children (birth to 12 years of age) can and should participate in civic life. It reflects new images of young children as social actors, together with the increased interest in children's rights in the public sphere. The contributors are early childhood researchers, pedagogues, children and policy makers from Australia and Europe. They present a rich diversity of research-based case studies in which policy-makers and educators have listened to young childrens views on public issues and responded in respectful and ethical ways. Young Children as Citizens is a unique resource for policy-makers, those working in children's services and child advocates. It shows how best to consult young children and it presents a range of arguments that consulting young children about policies and decisions that affect them supports and enhances a vigorous democratic society. Students (undergraduate and postgraduate), teachers and researchers in early childhood studies can use individual chapters of Young Children as Citizens selectively to explore issues of increasing complexity in different courses. The book would be a good set text for Honours and Master's programs that address issues of childrens rights.
About the Author: Professor Glenda Mac Naughton Professor Glenda Mac Naughton has worked in the early childhood field for 34 years. She is currently Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne University where she established and now directs the Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood. Glenda researches social justice and equity issues in early childhood and has published nationally and internationally on these issues. Glenda has just completed two projects that explore ways to embed children's voices in the childhood curricula and she is currently researching staff-parent relations in early childhood and cultural diversity in teaching and learning with young children. Dr. Patrick Hughes is a Research Fellow at the University of Melbournes Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood. He has taught Media Studies and Cultural Studies at Deakin University, London University and at the Open University and he has been a communications consultant to companies and governments in the UK and Australia. Patricks work has been published as books, book chapters and articles in Australia, the UK and the USA and he regularly presents papers to international academic conferences. Dr. Kylie Smith is a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne's Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood. Her research examines how theory and practice can challenge the operation of equity in the early childhood classroom and she has worked with children, parents and teachers to build safe and respectful communities. In her work with the CEIEC, Kylie has been actively involved in consulting young children about curriculum and policy in the early years. Kylie has also been working for the past twelve years as co-director and teacher at the University of Melbourne's Swanston Street Children's Centre.