BACKGROUND Participation by children and young people is an increasingly important guiding principle in child protection policy and practice, thanks to the influence of Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and other factors. However, the scope, terms and timing of such participation are still often determined by adults.

OBJECTIVE Drawing on secondary qualitative data, this conceptual study explores children's experiences of participation in their own and their family's involvement in the child protection process.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Twenty children and young people living in Ireland participated in the source study which provides illustrative material for this conceptual paper. They were aged 10-18 years and had experienced child protection involvement over the 18 months prior to interview.

METHODS A reanalysis of semi-structured individual interviews provided illustrative material for a conceptual exploration of children's experiences of participation in child protection involvement with their family.

RESULTS The conceptual analysis suggests that the children generally shared adult concerns about the child protection issues in their case, but that they also saw participation differently from adults especially in relation to certain aspects of risk and safety. They had concerns about the risk of stigma among peers and the community due to the intervention, and what they saw as the risk of insufficient ongoing dialogue between them and the professionals.

CONCLUSIONS This conceptual paper opens up new child-centred perspectives on children's participation in child protection, arguing that more attention to child centred participation can enhance participatory and protective practices in the field of child protection.