OPINION AND ANALYSIS
In light of a new children and youth-focused campaign called The Big Ambition, we explore the impact of empowering children by valuing their voices
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, recently announced the launch of a new campaign called The Big Ambition. Aiming to empower the voices of children and young people, it will capture their opinions and questions to put to political circles ahead of the next general election via a wide-ranging survey.
But why? Well, aside from contributing to the direction of the UK’s future, there are actually many reasons to value and empower children’s voices.
Humans are social beings, evolved to flourish in collaborative communities. As such, we have developed myriad ways to connect with one another from a very early age, making communication essential for building relationships, establishing social roles, and expanding learning.
Not only this, but the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that to be heard and listened to is a fundamental human right – one that children are entitled to as much as adults.
Over the past 50 years, various research – including Promoting Children’s Participation in Democratic Decision-Making by UNICEF, work by Dr Kathryn Peckham, and research by the University of Central London (UCL) – has highlighted that adult responses to babies, toddlers and children’s methods of communication up to age six can have a pivotal effect on their speech and language, as well as their sense of self and how able they are to advocate for themselves in future.
Although The Big Ambition is primarily for children and young people aged six to 18, parents of children under six years old or with additional needs are encouraged to discuss and complete The Big Ambition on behalf of their child to ensure the full spectrum of children’s experiences is included.