Getting to Why: Connecting with Children So They Can Tell Their Story

When children display behaviour that puzzles or concerns us, we need to look beyond the behaviour itself to understand what’s really going on. This session focuses on becoming the kind of adult a child will open up to, building trust through small consistent moments, and using questions and creative approaches that help children share their stories. Behaviour is communication; our job is to understand the message.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand why looking beyond behaviour is essential for meaningful support
• Build trusting relationships using the PANDA approach (Present, Approachable, Non-judgemental, Dependable, Advocate)
• Use questions effectively to help children articulate what’s happening for them
• Apply techniques to go deeper when conversations feel stuck