Browsing by Author "Ahonen, Jonna"

The wellbeing and agency of children are undeniably important topics. A variety of different agreements and acts need to be taken into consideration when ensuring their wellbeing and agency are realized. Earlier research has shown that children’s wellbeing is often viewed adult-oriented and is based on worries and problems. Additionally, child-oriented research on elementary school aged children’s experience of their own wellbeing is still sparse, even though the need for it has been recognized. This study portrays sixth graders’ wellbeing as they experience and describe it. The aim of this study was to increase understanding of those sources for children’s wellbeing that the children themselves find important and meaningful. The theoretical background of this study is in positive psychology. The method used in this study was qualitative, and it was based on child-oriented and phenomenological-hermeneutic principals. The material researched for this study consisted of photographs taken by the children and the writings to go with them (N=22). The material was produced and collected during the fall of 2017 in a Positive CV pilot at an elementary school in southern Finland. Content analysis and phenomenological-hermeneutic method were used to analyse the material. The results were built by both direct mentions and meaning-making. By examining the photographs taken by the children and their direct mentions in their writings the following were found to be important factors: activities, relations, sleep, and material things. The following factors were formed in the research of children’s meaning-making: self-expression, relatedness, capacity, and positive emotional experiences. These factors are supportive of one’s wellbeing, therefore they are also sources of wellbeing for the sixth graders participating this study. This study has given us a chance to be aware of the diversity in children’s wellbeing. Wellbeing is important to children also, and they are willing and capable of treasuring it. Children can and will tell about topics important to them, and it is the adults’ and the society’s responsibility to create the time and place for them to do so. Positive recognition and Positive CV are suitable concrete ways for supporting children’s agency and their wellbeing.