Interrogating Voice in the Early Years: The Spider’s Web as a Metaphor of and for Practice

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 2:30 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Humanizing and Honoring Children's Identity, Agency, and Voice (Table 1)

Abstract

Much has been written about children’s participation, particularly in relation to them being heard. This conceptual paper seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the enactment of children’s voice within early years practice settings. Through a series of dialogic encounters with research data and practitioners, the metaphor of a spider’s web emerged as a way this might be captured. Through building a spider’s web we highlight key components of voice practices with young children and illustrate the interconnectedness between them. This moves away from binary notions of research on and with children (Mayall, 2005). Connections such as agency and collaboration are fundamental. The spider’s web analogy also allows us to emphasise the evolving and transitional nature of voice practices.

Authors

• Mhairi Catherine Beaton, Leeds Beckett University

• Claire Cassidy, University of Strathclyde

• Kate Wall, University of Strathclyde

• Carol Anne Robinson, University of Strathclyde

• Elaine Hall, Legal Education and Professional Skills