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Participation as manipulation occurs when children and youth do not understand the issues motivating a participatory process or their role in that process. In Hart’s words: “Sometimes adults feel that the end justifies the means…. If children have no understanding of the issues and hence do not understand their actions, then this is manipulation. Such manipulation under the guise of participation is hardly an appropriate way to introduce children into democratic political processes.”

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Participation as decoration occurs when children and youth are put on public display during an event, performance, or other activity organized for a specific purpose, but they do not understand the meaning or intent of their involvement.

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Participation as tokenism occurs in “those instances in which children are apparently given a voice, but in fact have little or no choice about the subject or the style of communicating it, and little or no opportunity to formulate their own opinions.”

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Participation that is assigned but informed occurs when the children and youth (1) “understand the intentions of the project,” (2) “know who made the decisions concerning their involvement and why,” (3) “have a meaningful (rather than ‘decorative’) role,” and (4) “volunteer for the project after the project was made clear to them.”

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Participation that constitutes consulted and informed occurs when children act as “consultants for adults in a manner which has great integrity. The project is designed and run by adults, but children understand the process and their opinions are treated seriously.”

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8. Youth initiated, shared decisions with adults

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8. Youth initiated, shared decisions with adults

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Participation that constitutes child-initiated, shared decisions with adults occurs when children—though primarily teenage youth in this case—share decision-making authority, management, or power with adult partners and allies.

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6 Adult initiated, shared decisions with children/youth

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6 Adult initiated, shared decisions with children/youth

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Participation that constitutes adult-initiated, shared decisions with children occurs when adults initiate participatory projects, but they share decision-making authority or management with children.

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Participation that is child-initiated and directed occurs when children and youth conceptualize and carry out complex projects by working cooperatively in small or large groups. While adults may observe and assist the children, they do not interfere with the process or play a directive or managerial role.