How Interpreting for Children Differs from Adults

Anyone who has spent time around children knows that approaching them vastly differs from how you approach adults. More often than not, they have yet to develop the maturity or the coping skills to handle specific, everyday scenarios, especially if strangers are involved. This is why interpreting for children should be handled differently from interpreting for adults.

How to Properly Interpret for Children

Despite the obstacles to communicating with children, they often find themselves in situations they don’t understand. From school enrollment to medical and legal appointments, they must navigate the adult world, sometimes without their parents or guardians.

Not speaking the language makes this even scarier, so interpreters should take extra steps to assist them with communication. Here are five ways children differ from adults and how you can adapt your interpreting style to address them:

Smaller Vocabulary

Children, especially younger ones, have smaller vocabularies. But that doesn’t mean you should use baby talk. Start by interpreting the adult speaker directly. If the child doesn’t seem to understand a word, ask the speaker to define it in simple terms. As the conversation progresses, try to interpret at the same vocabulary level as the child.

Shorter attention spans

Children may struggle to stay focused during an extended conversation. Use shorter, simpler sentences when possible, but be careful not to paraphrase. You may leave out important information if you do.

Sensitivity to tone

Even young children are aware of the power differential between them and adults. While you may need to alter your vocabulary and sentence structure, try to avoid sounding patronizing. If the child picks up on the difference in tone, he or she may refuse to talk to you.

Less emotional regulation

Children are still learning how to regulate their emotions and express themselves. Some children may cry. Some may become angry. Others still may try to recoil altogether. Understand that this may be stressful for them, and be patient. Keep your speech steady and clear.

Different comfort levels with adults

While some children happily have conversations with adults, others fear strangers. Whether a parent or guardian is in the room may also affect the child’s willingness to talk. Pay attention to how the child responds to you and adjust your approach accordingly. And remember, some children have experienced trauma and it may take them longer to feel comfortable talking.

Interpreters Who Can Effectively Communicate With Children

Remember that the key to interpreting for children is adapting to their needs. Understanding the child’s capabilities and limitations will help you build trust. If you need experienced and reliable interpreters who have experience interpreting for children, check out our professional language interpreter services at Boostlingo!