Summary of what children said
March-May 2024
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
Democracy means that everyone, including children, can have a say in decisions that affect their lives. Between March and May 2024, children from all over the European Union shared their thoughts about how democracy works for them.
WHO PARTICIPATED?
1,921 children from 23 EU countries
answered questions about their experiences and ideas on democracy in an online survey.
28 children & 3 young activists
took part in
interviews
122 children
discussed the topic in focus groups.
The Platform’s Children’s Panel
advised on the
survey topics.
SAFE AND INCLUSIVE PLACES
What children said
- Children understand democratic participation as being informed, heard, and able to vote.
- There are more opportunities in cities than in the countryside.
- Older children feel more motivated to participate than younger children.
- Not enough consideration is given to children at national/EU levels (more at local level)
What children want
- To be more invited to participate in or contribute to adult spaces like local, national, EU councils where decisions directly affecting them are made.
- Safe spaces where children feel included, accepted and can express their opinions freely to make a difference in important issues like discrimination and helping their communities.
- Adults to help and mentor children to participate in decision-making.
-Child from Lithuania
INFLUENCING DECISIONS
What children said
- Children care about influencing decisions that directly affect their lives like school rules and local community activities.
What children want
- To let children help make school rules, choose exam dates, and find ways to stop bullying.
- To get feedback on their ideas.
- To know if and how adults use children’s ideas, what happens with their proposals and the results of their participation.
GETTING INFORMATION
What children said
- Children get information from family, friends, school, social media, and the internet.
- Children like to get information before taking part in activities so that they can prepare and get ready.
- Children know about misinformation and want to help fight it.
What children want
- To know more about democratic participation opportunities through schools, social media, and community groups.
- Schools to play a bigger role in sharing information about democratic participation opportunities.
- Accessible, child-friendly and clear information.
- To learn more about fake news and how children and adults can deal with it, for example how to check information and use trusted sources.
- Adults to stop spreading fake news and instead talk about how important it is to fight misinformation.
-Child from the Netherlands
VOTING
What children said
- Some children want to lower the voting age while others are not sure about children being mature enough with enough information to vote.
- Learning about democracy in schools is important to make wise choices when voting.
- Children need more information and encouragement to participate in democracy.
What children want
- To talk more about democracy in schools.
- More education about voting, democracy, democratic institutions and political processes at an early age.
- To be encouraged to join in decision-making by showing what children can learn and gain from taking part in democracy.
-Focus group from Hungary
