The rights of very young children in social work research: principles, processes and and practices

Despite the growth of literature on the rights of children in social work research, the rights of very young children in social work research remains underdeveloped, especially when compared with research developments regarding the rights of very young children in early years, early childhood and early education and care research (Clark, 2017; Ranta, 2023; Salamon and Palaiologou, 2022). With this in mind, this chapter focuses on the rights of very young children in social work research and its underpinning principles, processes and practices. The chapter begins by outlining the principles underpinning the rights of children, as defined in the UNCRC and supported by the General Comments (which are published by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and which give detailed advice on the interpretation and implementation of children’s rights. The chapter then moves on to consider the application of these children’s rights principles to social work research processes and practices. Drawing on a wide range of research examples, the chapter considers how and in what ways the rights of very young children are embedded throughout social work research related principles, processes, and practices, highlighting both the achievements and the challenges. The chapter ends by considering recommendations informing future social work research processes with very young children.