Children’s participative citizenship within the context of integral care and daily life

ABSTRACT

The concept of participation was reviewed as a component of children's citizenship in order to promote a programme for Integral Development. A narrative revision of the literature was carried out as well as a group discussion was organized along with the staff of an Integral Care Programme, in order to identify notions of democracy and child citizenship related to care and rearing. Some elements that favoured the child participation and some parenting skills were identified. Among the elements that must be encouraged in children are: the development of emotional, cognitive and communicative skills and promotion of decision-making; among the parent skills development included are: sensitivity and responsivity; establishing routines and participation experiences. It is important to stand out that the identified elements to promote child participation and parental competences should be adapted to every specific cultural context.

KEYWORDS:

• Participation
• child’s citizenship
• development
• daily life
• social interaction

Acknowledgements

We thank Mario Mandujano Valdés who assisted in assessing the manuscript translation, and participants of the CXXII statutory meeting of the Association of Pediatric Research for their contributions to the discussion of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Antonio Sierra Cedillo is a Doctorate in Collective Health. Research Assistant level C, National Institute of Pediatrics. Research lines: Child participation.

Carmen Sánchez is a Doctorate of Biological and Health Sciences, Member of the National System of Researchers Level I. Researcher in Medical Sciences Level D, National Institute of Pediatrics. Research lines: Detection and diagnosis of alterations in neurodevelopment in high-risk populations.

Miriam Figueroa Olea is a Physical therapist. Doctorate in Anthropology. Member of the National System of Researchers Level I. Researcher in Medical Sciences Level B, National Institute of Pediatrics. Research lines: Mother–child early interaction.

Silvia Izazola-Ezquerro is a Doctorate in Collective Health. Language therapist and coordinator of group intervention at Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Laboratory. Research lines: Communicative skills of caregivers.

Rolando Rivera González is a Physician, Doctorate in Anthropology, Member of the National System of Researchers Level I. Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Laboratory Head. Researcher in Medical Sciences Level C. Research lines: Prevention of developmental sequelae.