Which action should be avoided when questioning a child?

Which action should be avoided when questioning a child?

• A. Let the child set the pace
• B. Ask leading questions or suggest answers to the child
• C. Reassure the child that nothing is wrong
• D. Conduct the conversation in a quiet, private place

Answer: (B)

When questioning a child, the aim is to hear the child’s account in their own words without steering them. Asking leading questions or suggesting answers can bias what the child reports and distort memory, making it hard to know what truly happened. The safer approach is to use open-ended prompts that invite details and allow the child to describe events at their own pace. Creating a calm, private setting and offering gentle reassurance helps the child feel safe and more willing to share honestly. Letting the child control the pace and keeping the conversation in a quiet, private place are good practices, whereas leading the child is the action to avoid.

When questioning a child, the aim is to hear the child’s account in their own words without steering them. Asking leading questions or suggesting answers can bias what the child reports and distort memory, making it hard to know what truly happened. The safer approach is to use open-ended prompts that invite details and allow the child to describe events at their own pace. Creating a calm, private setting and offering gentle reassurance helps the child feel safe and more willing to share honestly. Letting the child control the pace and keeping the conversation in a quiet, private place are good practices, whereas leading the child is the action to avoid.