Children's Participation

Most of this issue is devoted to the use of participatory approaches with children. Why did we feel that children’s participatory merited a special section? As the articles in the section reveal, and as those working with other‘invisible’ groups can confirm, the benefits of ‘community’ participation and sustainable development will not automatically trickle down to children unless their specific needs and situations are taken into account. Victoria Johnson opens the section with an excellent introduction to the subject, and to the articles in the issue. These present a variety of perspectives, from the conceptual to the practical, yet all demonstrate the value and importance of seeking children’s views.