The Importance of Listening to Children

This week of all weeks, National Children’s Week 2019, it’s timely to think about how well we listen to children, and about the leadership that’s needed for listening. Children don’t vote, and they’re generally pretty powerless over the decisions made by adults about things that affect them, and their lives. Just two weeks ago, across the world, children and young people stood up and shouted out about climate. In a public strike against political inertia they demanded a safe future for our planet, and all of us who live on it. If only we could listen as well to the most vulnerable children who want, above all else, a safe childhood.

Right now in Australia 46,000 children are unable to live at home with their parents because it is just not safe. As a Barnardos leader I see all too often the trauma experienced by children as a result of the actions of adults who, usually through no fault of their own due to poverty and disadvantage, are unable to keep their children safe. The increasing economic divide in our society means this is becoming all too common for too many Australian children. We need to listen.

The children I talk to in Barnardos programs and services love their parents, however many are also afraid. They live frightened lives, and they tell us about it in many ways. In listening to them we need to hear their call to action for our leadership. We use our knowledge of the evidence of what works to keep families together, but sometimes this isn’t enough or it is too little too late. For some children, ongoing safety concerns override the time needed for adults to make changes quickly enough, in the time frames that children require.

Listening to our children, and ensuring that they have safe, supportive and secure homes to grow up in isn’t just about resource allocation, that’s just part of the story. While poverty is a major driver in most cases of child abuse and neglect, and it is essential that we deliver support to families with hope and respect, we also need to listen to children when they tell us through their words or behaviour that they are afraid. Leadership for children means not just listening but also creating changes so that they can have safe childhoods. Only safe childhoods create the space that vulnerable children need in order to shape their future. And we need to lead the way.