"I make those in my imagination": A guide to prioritizing children's agency and inclusion in research with the...

Ongoing calls for more inclusive, child-centered research practices have led social work, psychology, and medical researchers to develop child-sensitive approaches when working with younger populations, especially disabled, neurodiverse, gender-creative, or other explicitly minoritized children. Using the theoretical frameworks of being and becoming, growing sideways, and queer potentiality, this article provides a practical guide for designing and implementing Make-and-Tell, an arts-based method that prioritizes children's agency and inclusivity. Drawing on two studies I conducted with children ages five to ten years old, many of whom were neurodiverse and all of whom identified as gender-creative, I outline step-by-step procedures, strategies for addressing common challenges, and reflections on ethical and practical considerations. This guide is intended to support researchers in creating child-oriented research protocols that accommodate the specific ages, abilities, and needs of participants.