New toolkit launched to help professionals involve babies and young children in decision making

Date: 22nd January 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Civil Rights and Freedoms

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A new toolkit has been released to guide professionals and practitioners on how to listen to and involve babies, toddlers, and young children in decisions that impact their lives. Designed for those working with children under five, it offers practical advice, good practice examples, and insights into supporting early childhood participation. 

The toolkit seeks to support implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Article 12 of which guarantees all children under 18 the right to have their views heard and taken into account when decisions are made that affect them. The Participation Framework gives practical advice and guidance on how to listen to children’s views and take them seriously and is based on the Lundy Model of Participation. This toolkit should be used alongside the Framework. 

It is tailored for a range of professionals, including early years educators, healthcare workers, social workers, childminders, and teachers, as well as those offering sports, arts, and other activities for young children. The toolkit features real world examples of how children have been encouraged to share their views, based on interviews with professionals and early years specialists. These examples demonstrate how young children can influence their environments and decisions affecting their lives when supported appropriately. 

Additionally, a literature review overseen by an Early Years Working Group contributed to the toolkit’s development, providing valuable methodologies for consulting children from birth to age five. 

• Download the toolkit here.