How to Interview Children for a Publication

Writers are sometimes called upon to include the memories, views, or opinions of children in their written publications. That, of course, means they may have to conduct interviews with them in order to get the information required. While there are some similarities between interviewing adults and children, there are also some major differences; requiring that writers be on top of their game.

Things You'll Need

• List of questions to be asked
• List of children to be interviewed
• Place for interview to take place
• Established date and time for interview

Instructions

How to Interview Children for a Publication

1. Determine the specific information required during the interview. Write out the questions that will be asked and narrow them down to a reasonable number based on the amount of time allotted for each interview, the age and intellectual capacity of the children involved, and other important factors. Also decide if the children should be interviewed one-on-one or via a group process.

2. Match the questions to be asked against the children to be interviewed in terms of gender, age group, nationality or any other identified specifications. For example, if you trying to find out how many boys want to mirror the occupation of their fathers, then that would automatically eliminate female children from the interview process. If you are trying to determine how foreign nationals feel about the American education system, then that would automatically eliminate children who are already American citizens.

3. Obtain the parent or guardian's approval to interview the children prior to the actual event. Invite the parents to be present during the process and/or get them to sign a waiver of liability for protection purposes.

4. Establish a place to hold the interview based on the specific requirements of the process. For example, if the interview is to be videotaped, you will have to choose a location that can accommodate that process and make the arrangements accordingly.Make certain that the location is a place where the children will feel safe and comfortable as well as free to speak openly.

5. Set a date and time for each interview, coordinating those with the schedules of the children as well as their parents or guardians.

6. Send the parents an advanced copy of the questions that will be asked of their children. This will help to make them more comfortable with the overall process. If a parent raises a concern over one or more questions, negotiate with him or her until a consensus question can be agreed upon.

7. Conduct the interview. Be careful to treat the children with the same type of respect that would be shown to an adult. It is generally not necessary to talk "down" to children, although at times it may be necessary to define words or explain the meaning behind the question.

8. Provide each parent or guardian with a completed script of the interview session, if that was part of the advanced arrangement. Let them know what, if anything might be altered during the editing process. Solicit their impressions, concerns, or objections; working through each before finalizing the publication.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that parents, guardians, and children are helping you with the publication and therefore deserve your ultimate respect and appreciation.

• Show children the same respect that you would their adult counterparts.

• Accommodate your schedule to fit that of the children and their parents and guardians rather than trying to make their schedules to fit your own.

• Resist the urge to talk down to children, use the slang of their generation, or engage in baby talk which might be considered offensive.

• Don't lie or bend the truth about how the children's information will be used in the publication.

• Don't alter the information provided during the interview without prior approval.