This article has been adapted from a paper presented at the LexisNexis 2006 Child Law Conference, held in Auckland, on 25 March 2006. It is argued that lawyers and Judges should look to disciplines outside of their comfort zone to ensure that the Court is in the best position to meet the needs of children. The author discusses how, in a practical sense, a framework of the sociology of childhood affects the way lawyers elicit the views of children and the interpretations put upon those views. An examination is made of what the author sees as some challenges of interpretation in the Care of Children Act (2004). Additionally the author examines how the sociology of childhood perspective is able to challenge some accepted views of how Judges can treat the outlook of children. A sociology of childhood perspective is advocated to ensure the views of children are respected and that they are listened to as much as the views of their parents.

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New Zealand Family Law Journal 5(10) 2007 : 256-259