ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on findings from an empirical study exploring practitioner and parent understanding of child voice in two children’s centres in the UK. The chapter focuses on parents’ perceptions using the rights model of child participation developed by Lundy (2007) as a ‘tool’ for engagement and dialogue with adults. Engaging with the most significant adult in the child’s life – the parent or primary caregiver – is important if we are to have a holistic worldview of the child. Practitioners need inviting into the child’s lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with five parents (all mothers) recruited using purposive sampling. The four factors from Lundy’s (2007) model – space, voice, audience and influence – formed the structure for the analysis of the data collected. Thematic analysis identified four shared themes: (1) relationships; (2) children’s needs; (3) knowledge; and (4) social networks. Transcending these themes was the concept of an ‘open listening climate’. This concept is explored through the parent narratives, providing understanding, personal perceptions and a shared dialogue based upon UNCRC Article 12.
