Promoting self-expression in classroom interactions

Self-expression is a key concept for sociological studies on childhood since it is the cue of children’s self-socialisation and agency. Hence, promoting children’s agency and social participation requires their self-expression to be facilitated in their interaction with adults. While children’s social participation and self-expression are increasingly promoted in society, the control of children and the invitation to self-regulation continue to prevail, particularly in education systems. The analysis of a set of interactions in Italian schools sheds light on how and with what results promotion of children’s self-expression succeeded or failed through specific adult intervention and forms of communication. This analysis may be interesting for a reflection on the promotion of children’s participation and self-expression in education systems.