Children’s participation in the public space of La Pradera in El Marqués, Querétaro.

Abstract

This text shows the methodologic process and results obtained from a mixt investigation and an intervention in the form of a participation workshop in the public space with 11 children ages 6-12 in the neighborhood La Pradera, located at El Marqués, Querétaro, which lasted 12 sessions and had as objectives to describe the ways they participe in the public space, their conceptions of what is public space participation and to identifiy the influence of these types of workshops in their practices and ideas about what it is to participate. The information gathered was obtained using a pre-test and post-test format using interviews, participant observation, and questionaries, all which fed the results that showed how the children’s participation can be affected by adultcentrism, the lack of  safe places where they can carry this practice, the lack of participation opportunities and and the type of activities that are commonly done there. The information gathered during the post-test shows how the participants are capable of organizing autonomously to transform the public space according to their own interests, to modify their own conceptios about participation and their own hability to do so and it proves the need to give them spaces and opportunities where they can have an authentic participation and completely excersice they right to do so.