Participant Reflections on issues of consent and agency through this activity and Kate and Steve’s co-produced research with children

‘During the session... I became increasingly interested in the conversation surrounding consent. Understanding how we can not only actively listen children, but really hear what they are saying and give them options in their involvement in something.’ 

‘Hearing about the method Steve and Kate used was interesting. I was fascinated when Steve revealed the children did enact their rights to consent ...it conveys the idea that the children did have a genuine interest and involvement in the messages they wanted to deliver in their films.’ 

‘The idea that they were selective of what material they wished to be encapsulated in is almost a tangible link to wanting to be understood on their own terms. They wanted to be seen though their own media which they produced rather than through media which Steve chose.’ 

‘This session resonated and has reinstated in me the importance of child led work’ 

How we have used similar activities so far.... 

 In January 2021, Kate and Steve delivered a workshop for undergraduate students training to work with children as teachers, teaching assistants, play workers and educational psychologists. 

They invited participants to share an object they felt to be 'Odd' from their home environment. This open question opened up what is meant by 'Odd', including the difficulties of this word. 

In their writing, students reflected on the complexity of this deceptively simple invitation, and how it opened up a space for sharing. 

Participant reflections

‘The nature of this activity took me by surprise as it is not the typical type of activity lecturers ask of students. Nevertheless, I went to search for an odd object around my house. At first, I struggled in finding an object as I wanted to avoid causing offence to others; what seems odd to me may not be considered odd to another … Taking the picture was also difficult as I was cautious of the background and how the picture looked, I was conscious of other people’s opinions. Regardless, I took the picture, closed my eyes and sent the image.’  

‘…this task felt intrusive in a way as the task required me to capture a personal object in my home which is unlike any other task ever asked of me before. But it allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and felt exciting as the discussion that led from individuals sharing their images sparked a mutual feeling of closeness.’ 

How we have used similar activities so far…

Kate and Steve have worked with children to make co-produced films, publications and artworks. Every young person working with them was given their own ‘Odd Notes’ book to use in whatever way they wished. Their open invitations to share ideas of ‘Oddness’ aimed to centre the experiences of their participants.