Babies are born pro-social; they are effective communicators, primed to seek connection with their carers and curious about the world around them. Babies, toddlers, and young children have the right to be seen, heard and responded too from birth and these rights are enshrined within the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989). All children have the right to expression, to be taken seriously and for their needs and experiences to be considered with care. Very young infants and children must be enabled to enact and fully realise their rights; they must be seen, heard, considered and responded to by adults who recognise their responsibilities as listeners, first teachers and advocates.
Yet current evidence highlights that the views, voices and experiences of infants are less visible within practice than those of older children, leaving babies at increased risk of harm. If adults do not understand infants’ views and voices then the care, support and protection they are offered will be limited.
A RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN: INFANTS’ RIGHTS AND ADULTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES.
Infants develop their communication skills rapidly from birth with help from supportive adults. Adults also need to learn rapidly how to listen and respond to the many ways in which individual infants communicate All babies, toddlers, and young children have the right to have their communications attended to and responded to. Adults have a responsibility to promote infants’ right to express their feelings, needs, and experiences. (UNCRC Article 5)
WHAT IS THE VOICE OF THE INFANT?
The term ‘voice’ does not adequately reflect the ways in which infants communicate their views, experiences, feelings and preferences. Infants communicate during their early development through their body movements and facial expressions, and by using their voices to make sounds. All these sounds, movements, expressions and behaviours represent infant communication or ‘voice’. As they learn and grow, most infants develop increasingly effective verbal communication. For infant’s communication to be effective they need adults who are available, attentive, and responsive. An audience who the infant can influence, to be heard and get their needs met.
EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY, A MULTI AGENCY APPROACH
Sharing understanding, listening skills and knowledge is key. Many attentive listeners who enact their responsibilities to see, hear, consider, record and respond to Infant Views Voice and Experience creates a support and safety network in which infants can influence decision making and thrive.