Protests’ children: reflections on children’s participation in political demonstrations

Abstract This article argues that the participation of children and adolescents in adult public protests often constitutes ideological education, indoctrination, or brainwashing, rather than genuine political education as defined herein. Bringing children and teenagers to social protests can be educational when certain conditions—such as their comprehension of opposing positions regarding the issue at stake, or their ability to provide rational justifications for the protesters’ stance—are met. Moreover, some protests are, themselves, initiated by adolescents. However, participation in protests without adequate preparation is pedagogically suspect according to the principles of political education.