Hi, in short it's important that a child's voice is heard as what they say is of importance. They are witness and participants of experiences and events that others are not. They have aspirations, ideas, opinions and concepts unique to them. Hearing what's being said can mean that adults are given information that requires them to act in order to protect children and young people or enables everyone to discover new/ongoing interests and needs that support a child's individual learning, development and lifelong outcomes. Hearing what's being said helps mediation so a practitioner can support children with negotiate in times of conflict with peers.
Hearing and listening builds positive relationships that include trust, respect and can see the development of a genuine interest in how well someone is doing and what opportunities are open to them. Freedom of expression, safe from harm, respect for a child's view are all rights that every child has under the
UNCRC and the framework regulations of a
home nation. It's also a best practice way to build services around the needs of a child so that they can be appropriately supported rather than being given help by the ideas behind a system that might otherwise guess at the needs of an individual. Listening to what needs are is an approach that can save time, effort and maybe money.
Good reading to this research is
The Munro report
Quote from Take a moment to listen - Bernad Van Leer foundation publication yr 2000
We need to remember that, ‘listening to children’ is not only important, it is their right to be heard. and this list of why:
Listening to children enables them to
• put forward their thoughts and feelings.
• develop positive self concept
• enhance children’s competence and self confidence
• help children to accept other’s point of view
• help children to develop trust in adults.
• develop and sharpen their skills in negotiation and communication.
• establish healthy relationship with adults and peers.
Why is Listening Important to Adults?
Listening to children
• helps adults to empathise with children
• helps them in understanding children’s unique thoughts, feelings, hopes, fears and joy
• helps create child-focused culture.
Every child matters
England's
rights commissioner website
Listening to children on the PLA website
Hth