Childlife

One of the responsibilities of society is to make sure that all children and young people have the opportunity to grow up under good conditions. In Norway as well as internationally, governments are concerned with children’s inclusion and right to participation. One precondition in order to accomplish this goal is a good collaboration between the children themselves, their parents, and the various professions that make up the welfare state. 

More knowledge is needed about the everyday life of children and young people, and their encounters with the professionals of the welfare state. We need knowledge that cuts across the various professions that are concerned with children and young people.

Childlife is an interdisciplinary research group which brings together scholars and researchers from different disciplines and professional areas. One goal is to highlight and create conditions for innovative research on and with children and young people. 

Our priority is on studies which focus on the everyday lives of children and young people in a social, material, institutional, and cultural context, and which encompasses their experiences and perspectives. Our research interest also includes variety and diversity in the lives of children and young people. 

We furthermore want to create an arena for dialogue, collaboration, and creativity that may stimulate new research and knowledge development. Through our biennial research conferences, we establish international networks, and in cooperation with our international colleagues, we aim to be at the forefront of international research on topics related to the everyday lives of children and young people and their interactions with the various professions of the welfare state. 

The development of an analytical terminology and of methodological approaches have a high priority, including the development of methods where children and young people, their parents, and the professionals are all involved in the research process.

The members of the Research Group Childlife range from seasoned scholars to young researchers about to embark on their career, such as PhD and postdoctoral fellows. A group of master’s students from the different professional educations are connected to the group as well. 

Most of our members are involved in the education of those students who will be working professionally with children and young people in the future. Many of them have a strong foundation in the practical fields through a previous or current life in the professions, practice-based research, and supervision of students in practice.

Childlife was one of the instigators and promoters of the transdepartmental education programme INTERACT about interdisciplinary collaboration.

Read more about the research group on our blog (uni.oslomet.no).