Childhood Agency

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Childhood Agency
Introduction
The topic of childhood agency solicits different opinions from different people. Scholars, for instance, have been known to frequently offer research-based but contrasting opinions regarding the agency of children. Some criticize the way the rights of children have been limited and argue that children should be allowed more freedom to exercise control. On the other hand, some scholars argue for the restriction of children’s abilities by parents. However, recent sentiments seem to be moving towards more support for childhood agency and allowing children to be more involved in decision making. Of great importance in the conversation and debate about childhood agency is the definition of the term “childhood agency.” Different authors and authors theorize their definitions differently depending on their research subjects and other factors. For instance, Mashford-Scott and Church (2011) suggest that childhood agency is the ability of children to have voices that count as their own (32). Similarly, Ebrahim (2011) implies that children agency refers to the abilities of children to gain control on their own and produce social life (121). These two definitions lead to the conclusion that childhood agency refers to the ability of children to make choices and decisions that influence and have impacts on their day to day lives.
Richard Flynn in the article “What are we talking about when we talk about Agency?” contributes to the conversation on childhood agency by criticizing those that seek to limit the abilities and capabilities of children. Flynn (2016) argues that children have the right to exercise their abilities to exercise without opposition or restrictions from adults. However, adult interference in the lives children is not completely criticized. That is because there are certain special circumstances where children cannot be allowed to act independently of adults. Flynn concludes that one of the best ways to create an environment where children can develop their competencies is by supporting childhood agency and encouraging children to act independently and celebrate their achievements.
Literature Review
Angel Mashford-Scott and Amelia Church’s article titled “Promoting Children’s Agency in Childhood Education” is one of the numerous emerging research texts that encourage childhood agency. The title of this article is especially eye-catching as it seems to denote the author’s stand regarding the issue of childhood agency even before being read. This creates a suspense for potential readers due to the sudden increase in interest of how the authors of the text manage to justify their stand. This paper seeks to explore the subject of childhood agency using this article as a reference point. Aspects that make Mashford-Scott and Church’s article suitable for as a reference point in this discussion is their employment of both qualitative and quantitative evidence research that leads them to their conclusions and stand.
The authors of “Promoting Children’s Agency in Childhood Education” engage in the conversation about childhood agency from the perspective of teacher-child interaction...