Then and Now: Reflections on Arts-Based Participatory Research with Young Children

Abstract

In this chapter, the author shares experiences with arts-based participatory research with young children through the lens of ‘then’ and ‘now.’ The author considers how the past lives within her present and future as an artist, teacher, and researcher who works with young children using participatory methods. She grounds her reflection in research with children, framed as ‘our work together.’ She applies the lens of ‘then’ and ‘now’ to explore the following questions: What is participatory arts-based research with young children? Why is it important? How can we design participatory arts-based research projects with young children? What are the ethical concerns we collectively face in creating participatory arts-based research projects with vulnerable populations of young children? These questions are situated within a mapping of the author and children’s initial year of work together in one particular project: Amigos en el Jardin, Friends in the Garden.