“Then we would know, and then we could help the world:” Exploring the Multiracial Relationship Between Young Children, Families, and Social Movements

This study began with the researcher’s noticings and wonderings about young children’s understanding and impact in family activism spaces and broader social movements. Thus, the overarching research question was born: what is the multidirectional impact of young children on social movements? Secondary questions tackled children’s agency, families’ negotiation of activism at home and in the streets, and the rhetorical impact of children’s involvement. The bulk of the data was conducted via semi-structured interviews with young children (aged 3-8), caregivers, and educators. Qualitative thematic coding and analysis was conducted. A number of themes emerged, including: 1. Children make social movements more rhetorically and physically accessible, ultimately expanding who can contribute and how 2. Children contribute an acute sense of fairness and justice to movements, making them ripe for developing a power analysis with adult support. Implications are discussed, highlighting the increased risk of indoctrination when there is an absence of critical discussion about social issues in the home, children’s right to understand their role in movements, and the imperative that our movements tactically reflect their ideology. Finally, specific considerations and recommendations are given for folding children into social movements before limitations and future research suggestions are presented.