What Children Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Asking Questions

This training examines how children remember and recall experiences, with a focus on applying research to investigative interviews with children. Participants will learn how factors like age, development, trauma, and cognitive ability influence memory, and how memory can be both reliable and vulnerable to suggestion. We’ll explore common misconceptions, the effects of stress, and the critical role that questioning plays. Research shows that poorly worded or leading questions can distort a child’s memory, while open-ended, trauma-informed approaches help elicit accurate and detailed accounts. This training is ideal for professionals in child protection, forensic interviewing, law enforcement, and mental health who want to better understand and support how children recall and share their experiences.