Child Inclusive Practice: Where Family Law Meets Child Wellbeing

When navigating the complexities of family law and mediation, it is essential to prioritise the wellbeing and voices of the children involved. Child Inclusive Practice is a compassionate approach that places children at the center of the decision-making process, ensuring their thoughts, feelings, and needs are heard and considered.

When families go through separation or parenting disputes, it's not just the adults who are affected—children are often caught in the middle, navigating confusing emotions and changing routines. In the family law setting, there’s a growing recognition that children need more than just to be considered—they need to be heard. This is where Child Inclusive Practice (CIP) plays a crucial role.

What Is Child Inclusive Practice?

Child Inclusive Practice is a process used in family law and mediation settings to bring the child’s perspective into conversations about parenting arrangements. It involves a specially trained child consultant—often a social worker or psychologist—who meets with the child in a safe, developmentally appropriate environment. The goal is not to ask children to make decisions, but to give them an opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in their own words.

After speaking with the child, the practitioner shares key themes (not direct quotes) with the parents in a feedback session. This feedback is presented thoughtfully and professionally to help parents gain insight into how their child is experiencing the separation or conflict, and what they might need moving forward.

What Are the Benefits of Child Inclusive Practice?

The impact of Child Inclusive Practice is profound—for children, parents, and professionals involved in family law processes.

For Children:

• Validation and Empowerment: Children often feel overlooked in family transitions. Having their voice heard can be incredibly validating.

• Reduced Anxiety: When children see their feelings being acknowledged and acted upon, they may feel more secure and less anxious about the future.

• No Pressure to Choose Sides: CIP is structured to avoid placing the burden of decision-making on children. It focuses instead on how children are coping and what might help them feel safer and more supported.

  
  

For Parents:

• Insight into the Child’s World: Parents may be unaware of how conflict or change is affecting their child. CIP offers a window into their child’s inner experience.

• Shift Toward Cooperation: Hearing how their child is impacted can be a powerful motivator for parents to reduce conflict and prioritise collaboration.

• Child-Focused Decision Making: With greater understanding, parents can make choices that are more attuned to their child’s emotional needs.

  
  

For the Legal Process:

• Better Outcomes: Arrangements reached with the help of CIP tend to be more sustainable and less adversarial.

• Reduced Need for Litigation: When parents are aligned around the child’s needs, disputes can often be resolved more quickly and amicably.

  
  

Why It Matters: Supporting Children Through Tough Times

Separation and family conflict are among the most stressful experiences a child can face. Without support, children may internalize blame, experience anxiety or depression, or struggle with loyalty conflicts. Child Inclusive Practice offers a protective space where children can process what’s happening, and where their needs are prioritized in the decision-making process.

At its core, CIP is about respecting the child as a person with valid thoughts and feelings, not just someone affected by adult decisions. When parents hear their child's voice—filtered through the lens of a skilled professional—they often gain clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.

In this way, Child Inclusive Practice doesn't just improve outcomes—it strengthens relationships, enhances communication, and promotes healing.

Final Thoughts

Child Inclusive Practice represents a shift in family law toward more compassionate, holistic approaches. By listening to children, we not only protect their wellbeing—we empower families to make better, more enduring decisions.

For professionals and parents alike, embracing this practice means putting children where they belong: at the heart of the process, not on the sidelines.