Preschool PPI: How can we involve preschool children in research in a meaningful way?

In this study, we investigate how children aged 3-5 years can be involved in research and development work in a meaningful way. In recent years, children's rights to have a say in decisions that affect them have led to increased interest in child participation and involvement. Although older children are sometimes involved in research - not just as study participants, but as co-creators - young children are often excluded from involvement. But even preschool-aged children have the right to an opinion, to participation and to influence.

In this project, we work towards creating a guide for young children's involvement in research. As a first step, we will interview people who already work with participation with young children, such as preschool teachers, child health nurses, psychologists, social workers, researchers, and more. We want to map the ways they work and the methods they use, and in a second step investigate the evidence for these methods.

In the final phase of the project, we will test the newly developed guide in a preschool setting, within small local research projects concerning the preschools’ compensatory task. In a simultaneous process, the guide will be evaluated – from the perspective of both the children and the researchers.