USING AGE APPROPRIATE
GUIDELINES TO QUESTION
CHILDREN

Faculty Lecture

Required Reading

No required reading for this section

2

Memory

Types of Memory:

  1.  
  2.  

Stages of Memory:

  1.  
  2.  
  3.  

3

Guidelines for
Age-Appropriate Interview Questions*

Age of Child Who What Where When # of times Circumstance
 
3
 
4-6
 
7-8
 
9-10
 
11-12

This is only a general guideline. Each child's capacity will vary depending on his her unique circumstances and developmental level.

*Adapted from:

Walker-Perry, N. & Wrightsman, L.S. (1991). The child witness. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

Saywitz, K. (1994 March). Questioning child witnesses. Violence Update, 4(7), 3-8.

4

Additional Tips

Factors Impacting Development

Recognize Time Limitations

For Young Children:

  1. Stay on task
  2. Expect them to show on their own body
  3. Questions Should Be:

    __________ NOT __________

    __________ NOT __________

  4. Increase your use of:

end

2004 American Prosecutors Research Institute 2004 CornerHouse

Finding Words Training Manual