‘Can you shout a little louder?’ Listening and hearing children’s voices through play

Listening and hearing children as co-constructors and equal participants is a way of thinking about and seeing children’s interactions. This chapter explores the complexities of listening to children and really ‘hearing’ what they are saying through the different ways they express themselves in play and creative experiences. Examples of children’s talk and actions are used to reveal how early childhood educators position themselves to listen and hear how children communicate with each other and the adults around them. Key elements of acknowledging children’s voices, facilitating autonomy, and providing choice through play are highlighted in an examination of the benefits and challenges of listening to and hearing children.