ECA position statement: Guidelines for Consulting with Young Children

1. Children must be consulted.

   The process by which they are consulted must reflect commitment to maintain the dignity and welfare of children and their families. All those consulting with children must adhere to the accepted guidelines of professional and ethical practice. Professional and ethical practice includes consideration of each situation with reference to context, time, environment, acknowledgment of key players and their values, legal aspects, professional principles and ethical principles.

2. Children's views must be valued and treated with respect.

   Due consideration must always be given in any situation where a child expresses themselves. In the process of consultation and consequent representation these views and a child's perspective is to be valued.

3. The privacy of all children must be respected at all times.

   Information collected in the process of consultation must not be used inappropriately. While confidentiality can never be absolute, information must be treated in a professional, legal and ethical way.

4. Best practiceis crucial.

   When interacting with young children is based on sound knowledge, research and theories in early childhood.

5. Any adults interacting with children in a professional or personal role should adhere to principles that reflect respect for children's rights.

Policy principles

• The underlying principles related to this policy reflect adherence and commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics.
• Children are active in constructing their understanding of their world.
• Children’s autonomy and initiative must be respected.
• Children must be empowered to express their views and to expect that their views will be taken into account.
• It is essential that young children are consulted in matter that affect them. This consultation may be specific to individual situations or may involve representative group to inform more general practices.
• From birth a child is capable of expressing views and is able to make them known, especially to those attuned to interacting with young children.
• At times young children are not able to speak for themselves in forums/situations which may have an impact on their future experiences. In these situations groups and individuals who represent young children must have the opportunity to speak for them. In order to be a voice for children, advocates must consult with children and their families.
• Every effort must be made to ensure that it is the voice of young children that is heard. Adults must acknowledge the children's perspective in any representation they make on their behalf. The opinions of young children and representation of their experiences must be sought out. When interpreted or presented to others this information should maintain the truth as viewed by the children consulted. A child's opinion must be valued for its validity to their perspective.
• Advocates for children must be authentic representatives who value and honor individuality and diversity. Any interpretation of data gathered from consultation with children must be done based on a sound understanding of contemporary Early Childhood theory.
• Consent must be obtained from children and their families in order to include them in any process of data gathering. The purpose of the consultation must be made clear to the children and their families. Children are to have any process they are involved in explained to them at a level, which they can understand.
• Children must not be placed in any situation or environment that presents a threat to their health or wellbeing. In consulting with children adults must consider the children's health and wellbeing at all times.
• Children must not be intimidated or interrogated in any way and they must be given sufficient time to respond.
• No form of deception should be involved in consulting with children. Children must be respected. Adults must be honest at all times when consulting with children.
• Parents, family members, early childhood professionals, researchers and advocacy groups can be advocates for children. They must consult children and their families to be effective advocates. They have the responsibility of making decisions and acting in ways that promote and protect the rights of young children. (Rodd, 1998)

Implementation strategies

• The specialist early childhood knowledge or expertise of any adult who provides support during any consultation with children needs to be assessed. The context and needs of a child will influence this assessment. For example, knowledge of pediatric health may be important in one situation. In another situation a good understanding of cognitive and social development of young children may be essential.
• Someone with specialist early childhood knowledge acting as an advocate for the child should always be present when consultations are being conducted with children if their family members cannot be present.
• When consulting with children individual family culture must be considered.
• Questions addressed to children must be age/stage appropriate in style, content, complexity and length.
• When questioning children, it is important that those involved have an understanding of how children recall information.
• Consideration must be given to how much questioning needs to occur to obtain relevant information.
• Environments in which any consultation takes place must be assessed as being appropriate and authentic for the children and families involved.
• Children need to be provided with sufficient appropriate information to express a meaningful opinion.
• Individualised planned communication of the purpose of any consultation must be developed to meet the needs of a child in any particular situation.
• Support structures are put in place to ensure consulting with young children is inclusive of all children, e.g. children with a language other than English; children with disabilities.
• Special consideration needs to be given to consulting with very young children, e.g. infants.

Background Material