The role of objects in understanding children's participation in paediatric rehabilitation

Abstract

This article will present a consultation with a nine-year-old boy, his parents and professionals at a paediatric rehabilitation unit in Norway. The empirical case illustrates how the boy's participation appears when toys and equipment is used, and also when the conversation proceeds during the consultation. The case is analysed by investigating the child's participation through how the interaction between the different persons takes shape, and how toys and equipment are used in the consultation. The application of role theory and a materialist approach focusing on the use of objects illuminates the boy's participation in different ways, thus providing relevant information about how the child's participation affects professionals’ decisions in regard to the child.

Keywords:

• professional's work
• children's participation
• paediatric rehabilitation
• actor network theory
• role theory

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Professor Benedicte Ingstad and Associate Professor Bjørg Fallang for supervising on this article.

The study is part of the project ‘Talk with us’ Professional Practice and Children's Participation, Oslo and Akershus University College.

The Role of Objects in Understanding Children's Participation in Paediatric Rehabilitation