Children’s hearing in the context of legal proceedings is a delicate and complex situation. Whether is the case of custody, abuse or other legal circumstances, it is essential that parents are well prepared for supporting their children in such difficult moments. More than that, in the cases of abuse, when your child is a victim of one of the types of violence, it is necessary to know what to pass on to them and in what way.

The importance of preparing:

• You are the child’s first pillar of support. Therefore, it is necessary to be prepared because the first preparation, before arriving at the, will be done by you as a parent/ guardian/legal representative. The child feels the anxiety and stress the more as you feel it, and otherwise, in addition to the uncertainty caused by the hearing process itself, he or she will also feel you feeling stressed.
• The child needs emotional protection. To this end, he or se needs you support and assistance throughout the legal proceedings.

Steps for parent’s preparation

• Proper information – find out about the court process (and the roles of each person involved – judges, lawyers, psychologists, social workers, prosecutors) and its stages, or seek specialist advice so that you can explain to your child, in simple, age-appropriate language, what is going to happen. Try to give as few unnecessary details as possible so as not to frighten them.
• Create the right environment – it is very important for the child how the parents view the procedure, as they can see your attitude to the process. So, if you don’t believe in this procedure, the child will not trust that justice will be done; if you are stressed about what will follow, they will be stressed too.
• Emotional support – children need to be told by their parents that they are proud of them, that they support and stand by them throughout the court process. Try to learn some relaxation techniques, open communication and active listening to your child, which will help them to validate their emotions, feel more confident in their own strengths, but also let them know that you are there for them.

Preparation for the moments after the hearing is over is also necessary. It is essential to talk to the child about how he or she has been feeling and offer your support. Staff involved in the legal process include a psychologist. Try to talk to the psychologist before or after the hearing to let him or her know your feelings and feelings about the court process. The psychologist will know how to guide you in dealing with the situation. If you feel the need, you can talk to the professionals about counseling.

The child will also need counseling to help alleviate the after-effects and long-lasting effects of the trauma he or she has experienced. It is necessary to communicate the benefits of a counselling program and how it will help him or her overcome traumatic moments.

Preparing parents for such situations is essential to ensure that they, in turn, are adequately prepared and provide the necessary emotional and practical support for their child, as they are the people they trust the most.

Article by Ramona Cîrcu, Activities Coordinator

Bibliography:

Foster, H. R., & Hagedorn, W. B. (2014). „Through the Eyes of the Child: Using Simulated Child Interviews in Training.” Journal of Child Custody, 11(1), 1-15.

Quas, J. A., Goodman, G. S., Ghetti, S., & Redlich, A. D. (2000). „Questioning the child witness: What can we conclude from the research thus far?” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 1(3), 223-249.