Understanding Children's Resources in the Context of Family Violence through a Collaborative Songwriting Method

Abstract

The majority of literature about children experiencing family violence focuses on reporting 'problems' and highlighting detrimental outcomes for children. In contrast, there is little acknowledgement of children's personal resources and capacities in times of crisis. This article describes a participatory arts-based research project involving 10 pre-adolescent children. The research aimed to explore children's individual resources and to highlight the value of giving voice to children through participatory processes. A collaborative songwriting method sought to co-construct knowledge with children about what helped them to 'do well' in their lives. An illustrative example demonstrates the co..