Working with younger clients
The interview might take place with the younger client alone or with their parent or another adult present. If an adult is present, it is important to make sure that you are interacting with the young person and not with the adult. You want to make sure that you are exploring the young person's interests and aspirations, not hearing about what the adult thinks they should be reading.
You must take account of the age and understanding of the younger client. Age and understanding are not necessarily directly related. We have all met younger children who have a wealth of in depth knowledge on complex topics. Conversely it is unwise to make assumptions that teenagers are well informed on every topic or are fluent readers. The point to be remembered is that you should try to gain the required information in a positive and engaging manner which avoids talking "over the head of" or "talking down to" the younger client. Some younger clients will be mature and capable readers who would benefit from some of the resources described earlier under Outcome 2.
Younger children often have a shorter attention span than adults and it may be better to have a series of short conversations with them rather than one longer discussion.
Let's look at Identifying younger clients' current reading experience and preferences ...
