Introduction The Convention of children's rights focuses on protection, promotion as well as participation. Research show that young children's active
participation in matters affecting them is underrated. Further it is known that improving participation in care procedures enhances both motivation and
engagement. To achieve active participation in care procedures, the variation of experiences and perceptions, need to be explored and described. Purpose To
explore and describe children's variations of experiences, perceptions, thoughts and wishes in care procedures including a medical investigation. It is a first
study in a project aiming to develop and test an IT based interactive communication tool (IACT) for younger children. Material Younger children (3-5 years) in a
preschool, visiting a health care center and a pediatric day care ward. Methods A phenomenographic approach searching the children's variations of
experiences, perceptions, thoughts and wishes, in verbally and non-verbally expressions. Semi structured interviews, combined with talks based on vignettes,
observations and drawings are used. Results The result is still preliminary. However the children studied so long describe experiences and thoughts of varied
content. There are descriptions how they wished the care procedures to be carried out, as well as what scared them and what they wanted to avoid. The
descriptions of experiences and perceptions will be contrasted and demonstrated in a hierarchy of variations according to a phenomenographic analyses.
Conclusions The result will be the starting point to develop an IT-based interactive communication tool (IACT) for younger children, aged 3-5, to improve their
active participation in care procedures based on their experiences, needs and wishes.
2013.