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Children's participation in early childhood settings: listening to and hearing the voices of children and educators Deirdre McGrath (3579032) PUREID: 628791239 child participation early childhood education participatory research children's voice children's rights In Ireland there is a commitment at policy level (Government of Ireland, 2018; DCYA, 2015) and in early childhood education frameworks and guideline documents (NCCA, 2015; NCCA, 2009) to listening to young children's voices and advancing their opportunities to participate in early childhood settings. However, there is little empirical evidence of children’s experiences of participation or the ways participation is conceptualised and practiced by educators. This research addresses this gap. It is underpinned by a conceptual framework where children's agency is viewed in the context of the generational order (Leonard, 2016) and Shier's pathways to participation model (2001) which defines participation as the sharing of power and decision making. Drawing on the Mosaic approach which advocates a range of creative and participatory methods for listening to young children (Clark, 2005), this research utilised tours, photo voice and draw/mark and tell to consult with thirty-four children aged 3 to 4 about their experiences of participation. Eight educators took part in qualitative interviews which explored their ideas of participation and participation practices. Results highlight children’s preference for experiences where they had a greater degree of decision making and choice. Findings from educators highlight a strong link between educators' conceptualisation of the child and participation practices. A view of the child as a competent rights holder was an essential prerequisite for practices which afforded children significant opportunities to make decisions and influence pedagogical practices. Implications for policy, for education and continued professional development, for practice and for research are outlined at the end of this thesis. The thesis concludes with the presentation of a participation model. 2026-10-01T16:28:38Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32640735.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Children_s_participation_in_early_childhood_settings_listening_to_and_hearing_the_voices_of_children_and_educators/32640735 All Rights Reserved