Child Perspective vs Children’s Perspective

both of them are perceptions and interest on children. but too vague and not the best.

children’s perspective (inside view) → represents children’s experiences, perceptions, and

understanding. the focus is on children; children is the “subject”.

critiques traditional views of children in research and in society:

children as “human becomings” rather than “human beings”: incomplete, imcompetent,

imperfect adults. adult is the “being”. becomings are lacking universal skills and features,
future adults rather than actors “here and now” in their own right.

child perspective

• it is an “outside in” perspective. adults try to understand children’s view - how they
perceive world, what drive their actions, how they evaluate their experiences etc. it
“renconstructs” children’s perspective. “but even though child-centered, they will
always represent adults’ objectification of children.” (p. 7)
• child perspective (outside view) → direct adult attention towards understanding of
children’s perceptions, experiences, and actions. child perspectives are created by
adults, they seek to reconstruct children’s perspectives. you try to find out children’s
perspectives through scientific concepts and different methods. even though it tries to
get close to children world, it represents adults’ objectification and interpretation of
children and their needs.

children’s perspective (inside view)

• “represents children’s experiences, perceptions, and understanding in their life-world.”

child is the subject. it is not just “child-centered” it is basically constructed by child
herself/himself. it is an “inside out” perspective. “a children’s perspective is always
expressed in the children’s own words, thoughts, and images.”