Listening to Young Children’s Voices: Reflections and Impact on Policy, Practice and a Sustainable Future

By putting children’s voices at the heart of early childhood education, this essential textbook will help students truly understand what it is young children are saying and will show them how to support the promotion of the child’s voice.

Through an innovative story-like approach led by the perspective of children themselves, the authors encourage readers to critically consider how careful listening and responding to young children’s ideas and opinions provides exciting opportunities for a new pedagogical approach within education, thereby challenging dominant discourses. By focusing on real-life examples of what children say about things that are important to them, Listening to Young Children’s Voices provides a wealth of ideas and practical exercises to support an understanding of effective listening. Drawing from research and professional experience, and using theory and new conceptual ideas, the authors guide students to develop knowledge and critical thinking skills.

This book makes an important contribution to the discipline of early childhood education. It will be an invaluable tool for those working with and alongside young children, students, educationalists, and policy makers.

Dawn Jones, Senior Lecturer, University of Wolverhampton

Selena Hall, Lecturer, University of Wolverhampton

Glennda Tinney, Senior Lecturer, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Zeta Williams-Brown Reader in Education, University of Wolverhampton

Karen Williams Senior Lecturer, University of Wolverhampton