Practical Tips for Identifying the Needs of Children and Young People

Understanding the needs and preferences of children and young people is crucial for providing effective support.

You can do this in various ways.

The most obvious is to ask the child! Some practical ways to do this are discussed later in this module. Find out the point of view of the child or young person. Regularly check in with the child and adapt your activities based on their feedback to ensure that the support remains relevant and effective. Of course sometimes children will express a want that we cannot possibly meet. It’s important that we manage their expectations! School-age children can show us instead of telling us what their preferences, needs, and wants are. Don’t forget to use crafting sessions, painting, movement, and dance to encourage children to express their needs to us.

Talk to the parents. Ask them what works and what does not work.

Observation: What have you noticed about what the child likes and does not like doing? Have you noticed any particular times that the child finds difficult? What works and what does not work?

Collaboration with others involved in the child’s care – talk to other professionals and make sure you share ideas with each other.

Some tips:

Active listening

Active listening involves listening really hard to what a person is saying and what they are not saying. Much of the time that we spend listening, we are often thinking about what we are going to say next. Instead we can just encourage the person to speak by saying things like ‘uhum’ or repeating back the last part of what they have said.

Listen to the following short phone call a couple of times. You will notice a lot that is UNSAID. Have a think about this.

Can you identify how this could have been handled better?

Now listen to the next clip and consider the difference in approach…

Active listening tips…

• Stay Present: Give your full attention to the speaker. That means putting away distractions like your phone or other tasks and focusing on what the person is saying.
• Reflect and Clarify: Paraphrase or summarise what you’ve heard to show you understand and to confirm you’re on the same page. You might say, “So what you’re saying is…” or “It sounds like…”
• Show Engagement: Use nonverbal cues like nodding, maintaining eye contact, and leaning slightly forward. Also, respond with verbal prompts such as “I see,” “Really?” or “Go on,” to encourage the speaker to continue.