Page 38 - Meeting with Children Book

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developmentally ready or not). Forensic interviewers
focus on skill-development in question formulation
including the following:
 Use active vs. passive voice
 Avoid negatives and double negatives
 Include only one query per question
 Use simple words
 Use simple phrases
 Use the child’s terms
 Use open-ended questions
 Be alert to any signals that the child is having
difficulty comprehending questions asked
 Identify your hypothesis and bias before
interview
 Truth and a lie – helping the child establish the
difference
 Construct a variety of questions

How Meeting With Children is Different
Meeting With Children requires a different skill set.
Meeting With Children requires all of you. It means
you are open to how children function.

ALL of the following skills are necessary:
 Establishing trust and engagement
 Being comfortable with toys and objects and
knowing how to introduce items in your play
space
 Not feeling the need to lead the process through
a series of pointed questions
 Suspending judgment (re: meanings)
 Holding (meaning being able to sit in silence or to
follow the child’s energetic behaviors)