It is important to establish the child’s perspective and take time to listen when working to support infant mental health. This can be dismissed as impossible for babies and young children who are not yet verbal. However, if professionals and practitioners only align with views of parents and caregivers, we can miss key information which might inform us of how best to support a family. This sprint helps to explore ways in which we can get a sense of how a baby or child might be feeling and create a bigger picture of the lived experience of a child.
In Listening to young children: the mosaic approach, Alison Clark and Peter Moss (2021) developed a method for listening to children that they called the ‘mosaic approach’. This was developed during a research study to include the ‘voice of the child’ in multiagency practice of services for children and families.
Clark and Moss spent time observing children and talking to them to gain insight into their experiences and lives. They also used a range of creative methods such as digital photography where they asked children to take pictures of what was important to them. They spoke with parents, carers and educators to build up a larger ‘mosaic’ image which could then be used to influence change within a setting to help support children better and respond to their individual needs. You can read more about the Mosaic Approach here.
Barriers to hearing the child’s voice
A multi-layered approach to listening to children and hearing their voices is essential. It is important that adults themselves do not create barriers to hearing the voice of the child by making assumptions about what children can and cannot do. Listening to young children can’t be rushed, time needs to be spent observing and understanding each unique child and the dynamics with the parents and caregivers.
Read: Reflecting on parent-infant relationships: a practitioner’s guide to starting conversations
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This guidance helps to explore the role of observation and how a professional might build up a sense of where any difficulties might lie for an infant. This guide emphasises that ‘although we cannot ask babies about their relationship with their parent or carer, by watching them closely we can begin to understand their experience of the relationship.’ Make some notes reflecting on how the role of observation can give babies a voice.
You can find lots of practical and creative ways of gathering the views of children in the following document:
Stop and Reflect:
Reflection is key to considering how best to listen to young children and how this might support their social and emotional development. Start with these reflective questions:
- Why might some children be listened to more than others?
- How might you respond creatively to capturing the voice of the child? Why is this insight important?
- What might you find particularly challenges about capturing the voice of the child?