Children’s voices: Reflections on the telling and the listening
Lawrie Moloney
Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne; Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne VIC
PP: 216
Abstract
This article considers two transcripts, illustrating that children are often wiser than we imagine. The transcripts also reveal that tapping into this wisdom involves considerable openness and skill on the part of the adult listener and brings with it a considerable degree of adult responsibility.
This, in turn, has implications for child-inclusive practice in postseparation mediation.
Keywords
child-inclusive practice, children’s perspectives, children’s voices, conflict, child development, education, family dynamics, family law, postseparation parenting disputes
References
Amato P (1987) Family process in one parent families: The child's point of view. Journal of Marriage and the Family 49: 327-337.
Caulley D (1994) Notes on the basic characteristics of postpositive interpretive inquiry, in Neville B, Willis P and Edwards M (eds) Qualitative research in adult education, pp.3-20. Underdale: University of South Australia.
Grimes A and McIntosh J (2004) Emerging practice issues in child-inclusive divorce mediation. Journal of Family Studies 10(1): 113-120
James A, Jenks C and Prout A (1998) Theorising childhood. Cambridge UK: Polity Press.
McIntosh J for Strategic Partners (1997) Child-focussed family and child mediation and counselling (Research and Evaluation Report for Legal Aid and Family Services). Canberra ACT: Attorney General's Department.
Mahon A, Glendinning C, Clarke K and Craig G (1996) Researching children: Methods and ethics. Children and Society 10: 145-154.
McIntosh J and Moloney L (2002) Child inclusive primary dispute resolution. Clinical demonstrations. Centre for Online and Multimedia Educational Technologies, La Trobe University, Melbourne.
McIntosh J and Long C (2005) Current findings on Australian children in postseparation disputes. Outer conflict, inner discord. Journal of Family Studies 11(1): 199-110.
Moloney L and McIntosh J (2004). Child-responsive practices in Australian family law. Past problems and future directions. Journal of Family Studies 10(1): 71-86.
Neoh J (2005) 'Shared parenting. Incorporating children's perspectives'. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Deakin University, Melbourne VIC.
Ridge T (2003). Listening to children: Developing a child-centred approach to childhood poverty. Family Matters 65: 4-9.
Smart C, Neil B and Wade A (2001) The changing experience of childhood: Families and divorce. Malden MA: Polity Press.
Strangeland C, Pellegreno D and Lunholm J (1989) Children of divorced parents. A perceptual comparison. Elemetary School Guidance and Counseling 23: 167-174.
Young D and Bodie G (1984) The accuracy of parents' perceptions of children of divorce. Early Childhood Development and Care 13: 309-320.
eContent Home
