Talking with Children - Paediatrics

Dealing with Children and Families

Talking with Children

·        Do:

o  Engage them

o  Explain who you are and why you are seeing them

o  Use language and concepts that are age appropriate

o  Reassure if seeing separate from parents

o  Outline confidentiality issues with older children or adolescents

·        Don‟t threaten:

o  The child‟s sense of loyalty to their family

o  Their defences against unbearable emotional pain

·        Interviewing preschoolers (3 – 5 years):

o  Get down to their level, use simple language

o  Take things at their pace

o  Can use play, drawings and stories

o  Ask about everyday world

o  Watch verbal and non-verbal communication

o  See with parent

·        School age children (6 - 11 years):

o  Can be structured

o  Ask about feelings (sadness, anger, etc) as well as daily life

o  Ask about family, school, friends, problems, worries

o  Wishes, hopes for the future

o  Very abstract, open-ended questions can be confusing