What Does Child Empowerment Mean Today?
Implications for Education and Well-being
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Childhood is changing in ways that we are still unpacking, affected by digitalization, globalization and climate change, as well as shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In many OECD education systems, child empowerment is increasingly an explicit aim of policies and practices. But it is often poorly defined, which risks turning it into a mere slogan. With the advancement of children’s rights, children are increasingly being included as stakeholders in decision-making processes. This report gives examples of how children in OECD countries can and do participate in making decisions about issues that affect them. The report examines children's emotional well-being and physical activity, and the role of schools as a physical space to create and support relationships. It also underlines the untapped potential of media education when it comes to seizing opportunities in childhood. Empowering all children to make the most of digital opportunities starts with further narrowing the gap in terms of access to digital tools and the Internet, where inequalities are persistent and pervasive. So, what does child empowerment mean today? Empowered children have the opportunity and ability to act on issues important and relevant to them, can learn by making mistakes, and are key contributors to democracy.
Citizens of today
This chapter explores modern childhood and its changing nature. It looks at children as citizens of today, recognising them as rights holders and acknowledging the agency they can and do exercise. Childhood and its conceptualisations are dynamic, influenced by broader societal shifts. With the advancement of the children’s rights and agency dialogues, children are also increasingly being included as stakeholders in decision-making processes. This chapter outlines some examples from OECD countries on how children can and do participate in making decisions about issues that affect them, recognising their rights to participate.
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