Children’s views on what matters in learning and life

Using Pedagogical Documentation as a tool for assessing children, this chapter reports on research conducted with children, asking the question ‘What matters to you?’. The chapter describes the origins of Pedagogical Documentation from Reggio Emilia, and presents a justification for its use by early childhood educators. Drawing upon current research, theory and policy, this chapter explores the tensions that exist for teachers/educators and practitioners working with young children and including their voice. Children’s words, drawings, photographs and artefacts will be used to narrate five themes from the data about what is important to children in their lives.