Child Inclusive Mediation – sometimes called Child led Mediation is part of a parents Mediation around Child Arrangements or Financial arrangements. The mediator will speak to you both about how to ensure your Child/ Children’s voice is heard as part of any decisions that you may be making in the mediation process.

This will often come up in the MIAM and again in the first mediation session, however we can’t see children until after the first Mediation session between the parents has taken place.

Child Inclusive Mediation is our speciality, it provides a positive way to ensure your children have a chance to say how things are for them right now without fear of being influenced or having to please one or often both parents.
Children over 10 have a right in law to have their voice heard in all decisions being made about them. It is considered a human right, but that’s different to children being the decision makers.

Children are often afraid to upset either parent and often tell us how they are feeling about the situation between their parents, what things they might need to change or be improved for them to be happier, any ideas they might have about spending time with each parent, including the holidays and what is important to them in any living arrangements.

Both parents have to consent to hearing from the children before we are able to arrange to speak to them. We try to make sure they are in a comfortable environment and free from any perceived or potential influence that they may feel.

It is very normal for children in separated families to feel pressure and to tell one parent one thing and the other something different about their experience. This enables them to say how they feel without that pressure, and with a commitment from both of you to hearing their voice and being willing to make changes.
Nowadays most parents who bypass Child Inclusive Mediation and apply to court are directed back into Mediation for Child Inclusive Mediation. It is also important to know that the Mediator can’t provide any written views to either parent of what your children tell them. Feedback is verbal only.