The way something is said is often more important then what is said and so it’s important to watch your tone of voice.

With children developing at varying rates, their understanding of vocabulary will differ and so it can be useful to listen to how a child describes how they feel and match their language. You can always ask more questions to get a further insight into what the child means by the words they use. 

When talking to children and young people you may need to avoid medical jargon but this can depend on their age. Younger children will benefit from simple words, whereas older children may be insulted if you treat them like a baby and talk to them as if they can’t understand. Take note of the age of the person and their level of understanding, and tailor your words to meet their needs.

Ask open-ended questions as children are unlikely to offer more information if they can give a simple yes or no answer.