Children are individuals in their own right, with their own opinions, wishes and rights. They have a right to participation – to be heard, to have a say and to help decide in matters that affect them (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Book VIII of the German Social Code, SGB VIII). Participation is also an important pedagogical concern: it takes children seriously, strengthens them and promotes key skills. And it is a protective factor: children who are involved and who are allowed to express themselves and to complain are strengthened and better protected. This also includes a complaints procedure for children – the opportunity to complain and to be taken seriously. This course provides a basic understanding of participation, its importance and legal foundation, the participatory stance, forms and levels of involvement, participation in everyday life, children's meetings, complaints procedures for children, involvement in decisions, the limits of participation and its connection with child protection.
Course objectives:
- understand what participation is and that it is a right
- know the importance and effects of participation
- develop a participatory stance
- know the forms and levels of involvement and put participation into practice in everyday life
- design and run children's meetings and complaints procedures
- know the limits of participation and the responsibility of adults
- understand the connection between participation and child protection
E-learning flat rate · Self-study library
This course is part of the self-study library
With a single membership you can use all the self-study courses included – flexibly, at your own pace, with interactive self-reflection and a confirmation of participation. Already a member? Then simply log in.
Become a member now →📘 Further reading on the topic: Protection concept for day-care centres (Kita): a duty under Section 45 SGB VIII
Self-study without supervision, assignments or evaluation of learning progress by instructors; the voluntary self-reflection is for your own orientation only. Your confirmation of participation becomes available once you have marked all modules as done yourself.