Kid Connection: Listening Is More Powerful Than Fixing

Rachel Hinds, a Guardian ad Litem, says meaningful conversation with children begins with connection and listening rather than immediate problem-solving. She notes that predictable routines, reduced overstimulation and culturally supportive foster placements help children feel safer and more understood.

Each year Xpress runs a Kids Issue that includes student work and related reporting. This Q&A features Rachel Hinds, a Guardian ad Litem who visits children involved in abuse and neglect cases, observes home and school settings, and makes recommendations to the court. Hinds describes the core of her work as standing up for a child’s rights and ensuring a child’s voice and developmental needs are considered within complex family systems. The conversation focuses on how adults can better connect with children and on local concerns for youths. What Hinds says: - Meaningful conversation usually starts with connection rather than direct questions, and children open up when they feel safe, not pressured. - Slowing down, getting to a child’s level, and offering full, undistracted presence often creates space for deeper conversation, she says. - Many children experience high levels of stimulation from long school days, busy schedules and screens; predictable rhythms and moments of calm can make communication easier, Hinds reports. - Listening and reflecting back what a child expresses are described as more powerful than immediately trying to fix problems, because they build trust over time. - Hinds also reports concern about cycles of childhood trauma and emphasizes the importance of culturally reflective foster placements, awareness of foster care needs, and community support for families. Summary: Hinds emphasizes that connection and listening are central to helping children feel understood, and that lowering overstimulation and protecting predictable routines can support conversation and regulation. She also highlights intergenerational effects of trauma and the local need for foster homes that reflect children’s cultural backgrounds, noting community efforts such as awareness and recruitment she mentioned.