“Instead I started solving my problems myself”: Exploring children’s actions of participation in social work

This article explores children’s actions of participation, and how these can be understood, using the concept of agency. The study is based on social constructionist theory and includes interviews with 11 children aged 7-16 who received open care interventions. It finds that children’s actions, as described by the children, are formed in relation to situational constraints ranging from actions that are accepted and sometimes encouraged, to actions that challenge the boundaries of what is permitted by their position as children. The article contributes to a broader understanding of children’s actions of participation in a social work context.