Documenting and sharing children’s knowledge to support their mental health

What becomes possible when we gather and document children’s knowledge about how they have navigated difficult times? What might it be like for children to be invited to contribute their expertise to benefit others? How might you share one child’s ideas, skills and know-how with other families? 

In this podcast episode, we speak with Carolyn Markey, a child and family counsellor with Relationships Australia South Australia. Carolyn talks about her work gathering and documenting children’s knowledge about how they have managed through hard times, as well as their ideas about how they would like their fathers to treat them. She also explores ways their know-how and ideas can be anonymously shared to help others, particularly fathers she is also consulting with. 

In this episode you will learn about: 

• expansive understandings of children’s knowledge [01:33]

• creating space for children’s knowledge [05:32] 

• documenting children’s knowledge [12:54] 

• practices for sharing children’s knowledge with others, particularly men who are fathers [22:47]
   

Further information and resources:

Engaging children: Creative conclusions– Module two: Inviting further contributions (module within online course) 

Engaging children (learning pathway)