Co-creation as playful democracy: reaching youth through schools

Introduction Declining youth participation in representative democratic institutions poses a growing challenge to democratic legitimacy, highlighting the need for innovative approaches that foster broader inclusion. Guided by the concept of democratic goods, this study examines co-creation as a participatory approach to engaging young people in public decision-making, addressing a gap in research on youth co-creation. Methods The study draws on two Finnish pilot cases of “Playful Democracy Weeks” conducted in upper secondary schools, where students collaborated with municipal actors using digital and playful tools. A qualitative process evaluation, informed by action research principles, was based on interviews, surveys, observations, field notes, and recordings of interactions between students and municipal representatives, analysed through thematic analysis. Results The findings suggest that schools provide a promising setting for broad and diverse participation by enabling large groups of young people to engage in a structured environment. The combination of digital tools, group work, and gamification increased motivation, perceived relevance, and participants’ sense of political efficacy. Youth participation was strongly shaped by peer dynamics, prosocial motivation, and familiarity with digital environments. While playful and digital elements enhanced engagement and creativity, their effectiveness depended on careful implementation and alignment with participants’ expectations. Challenges related to adult–youth power relations, institutional responsiveness, and the risk of superficial engagement nevertheless remained. Discussion The findings highlight the potential of schools as arenas for democratic innovation and suggest that playful co-creation can strengthen inclusive participation among young people. At the same time, realizing this potential requires sustained institutional commitment and meaningful responsiveness from public authorities. Further research is needed to examine how such approaches can be embedded sustainably within public governance.