Ethical considerations

When children and adults interact, the new roles of equality can confuse the child. 

The child may want to seek the adult's recognition or seek consensus. The child may experience being unsafe in new roles if the child is not experienced in taking a more equal position - or has experienced adults inviting the child's perspective and participation in a respectful way.

The child (depending on age, experience and competencies) may not always understand what is the child's own perspective or what is best for the child. The child's perspective and the best interests of the child often require an interpretation / translation that occurs through the adults around the child. Maintaining the child's perspective requires special attention and it is an ongoing challenge to seek the child's 'clean' perspective.

In co-operation with children, it is therefore crucial to deal with dilemmas and to behave ethically responsible through reflection on the child's perspectives, the child's well-being, positions, hierarchies and offers of new positions and opportunities. It requires a safe room, and perhaps another room with different frameworks from the known.

Pay particular attention to negotiating acceptance with the child. Be aware of when to obtain consent and, in general, of rights and legislation that protects personal information.