Empowering agency. The role of childhood sociology in child welfare and protection systems

This chapter introduces the sociology of childhood as a transformative framework for rethinking children’s rights and participation in social work. It challenges traditional, adult-centred conceptions of children as passive dependents or " adults in waiting” and repositions them as active social agents. The chapter outlines key theoretical contributions-from Corsaro’s interpretive reproduction to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and James and Prout’s new sociology of childhood-showing how these perspectives reframe childhood as a distinct, meaningful life stage. It then links these theories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Articles 2, 3, 6, and 12, arguing that sociological insights and legal rights together demand a child-centred, participatory practice. Drawing on practice examples and case studies, the chapter examines how children construct meaning, negotiate power, and contribute knowledge in families, peer groups, and welfare systems. It highlights the tensions that social workers face in balancing protection with agency, especially in risk-averse, resource-constrained environments. The chapter contributes to the book by providing a conceptual bridge between childhood sociology and rights-based social work. It offers reflective questions and practice implications to support practitioners in integrating these insights, promoting inclusive, equitable, and participatory approaches in child welfare and protection.