Frihed i fritidspædagogik

This article aims to delve into perspectives on freedom and conversation within the realm of leisure pedagogy. Furthermore, the project will investigate whether there exist unique paradoxical conditions within a freedom-oriented approach in the context of leisure pedagogy. The article is grounded in the project "Freedom in Leisure Pedagogy”, which employed the following research questions: What constitutes freedom from an educational standpoint for children in leisure-time pedagogy? How does the social teacher foster children's autonomy and independence during leisure time? The project primarily entailed focused short-term ethnographic fieldwork in four SFOs, utilizing intensive passive observations followed by observations and interviews. The article presents how children navigate and utilize freedom within the framework of the after-school care institution (SFO), and how educators work to enhance children's ability to exercise their freedom. It aims to discuss the pedagogical potentials for empowering children to use their freedom. The ability to engage in conversation is fundamental to being a democratic citizen and is particularly crucial for existential experiences as human beings. The results show how conversation serves as a tool for developing children’s autonomy. The research project conclude that conversation enables children to think and exercise their freedom to make choices