Being believed and listened to by adult helpers is important for children and young people. Many say they are not truly heard and that most adults are more interested in telling them what to do and assuming they have nothing of value to contribute, rather than appreciating them as
the thinking, feeling individuals they are.
Most children and young people say that for adults to be helpful, they need to be someone who they can trust and who will provide them with information that is clear, simple, and relatable to their individual circumstances.
When the views of children and young people are embedded into the relationships they have with helpful adults, they feel their experiences and identities are being respected and validated.
This guide provides helpful tips for how to genuinely engage with children and young people to ensure organisations and individual adult helpers are providing truly child focused care.