Listening to children

There are many reasons why this is so important and many reasons why it is so hard to do.With limited time, practitioners need to feel comfortable about finding ways of being with children of different ages, understanding their environment, recognising their capabilities and taking account of what their eyes and ears tell them.This course looks at how to listen to and evaluate what children and young people say. It explores a range of techniques which enable children and young people to express their views, wishes and feelings.

Learning outcomes cover:

• Improving inter-agency awareness of the importance of listening to children.
• Developing understanding of the needs of children and young people.
• How to enable children and young people to express their views, wishes and feelings.
• Awareness of the roles and responsibilities of professionals who converse with and listen to children
  and young people.
• Techniques for communicating with young children.