How do children change childhoods and what are the difficulties and benefits of this participatory approach?

Participation could be described as children taking an active role in making decisions and being involved in shaping their own lives. How much they are allowed to participate can depend upon cultural perceptions of what a child is, whether they are in need of adult intervention and whether they are deemed competent enough to do so. Montgomery (2003, p.189) explains that there are many reasons for adult interventions but primarily that traditionally children are viewed as vulnerable humans in need of adult protection and care. Montgomery (2003 p.189) also explains that children are targeted in intervention as they are seen as an investment for the social future and because they are social actors within their own rights when referring to the rights of the child within human society.

Montgomery (2003, p.190) explains that the concept of children needing to be rescued is old fashioned…(short extract)