Putting Children First by Understanding Their Experience
As we continue to celebrate National Child Contact Centre Week 2026, today’s theme is “Through the Child’s Eyes.”
When adults think about contact arrangements, they often focus on schedules, reports, court orders, and practical arrangements. Children, however, tend to experience things very differently.
Children notice how a place makes them feel.
They notice whether they are welcomed with a smile, whether there are activities that interest them, whether the environment feels safe, and whether they can relax and simply be themselves.
Today’s theme encourages us to pause and consider an important question:
What does this experience feel like for the child?
Every Child Experiences Things Differently
No two children experience family separation, change, or contact arrangements in exactly the same way.
Some children may feel excited about seeing family members. Others may feel nervous, uncertain, or need time to settle into a new environment. Many children experience a mixture of emotions, and these feelings can change over time.
What remains important is ensuring that every child feels:
- Safe and secure
- Listened to and respected
- Welcomed and valued
- Supported by trusted adults
- Comfortable enough to express themselves naturally
When these needs are met, children are more likely to engage positively and benefit from meaningful family time.
Seeing Through a Child’s Eyes
Recently, while exploring one of our contact rooms, a child spent time moving between different activities, trying out toys, looking through books, and discovering features around the room that immediately captured their attention.
What stood out was not what adults might have expected.
It wasn’t the size of the room or the carefully planned layout that excited them most.
Instead, it was the simple things – the opportunity to play, explore, and interact freely at their own pace.
It was a reminder that children often experience environments very differently from adults. While adults may focus on the purpose of a visit, children are more likely to focus on how a space makes them feel.
Do they feel welcome?
Do they feel comfortable?
Can they relax and be themselves?
These are the questions that have helped shape the design of the Springcare Family Support Centre and continue to guide our approach to supporting children and families.
Creating Spaces with Children in Mind
As we prepared to open the new Springcare Family Support Centre, we carefully considered the experience from a child’s perspective.
We wanted to create more than just a venue for contact sessions.
We wanted to create an environment where children could feel comfortable, engage naturally, and enjoy meaningful time with the people who are important to them.
From age-appropriate activities and comfortable furnishings to dedicated contact rooms and a sensory room designed to support emotional wellbeing, every aspect of the centre has been developed with children and families in mind.
Our aim is simple: to create spaces where children feel safe, supported, and able to build positive memories.
Looking Ahead to Our Grand Opening
This year’s National Child Contact Centre Week is particularly special for springcare as it coincides with the opening of our new Family Support Centre at 211 Fore Street, Edmonton, N18 2TZ.
On Friday 26 June 2026, we look forward to welcoming professionals, partners, families, and members of the local community to our Grand Opening event.
We are also honoured to be welcoming the Mayor of Enfield as we celebrate this important milestone and showcase our commitment to supporting children and families across Enfield and the surrounding boroughs.
Through the Child’s Eyes
When we take the time to see the world through a child’s eyes, we are reminded that every interaction, every environment, and every experience matters.
The colours they notice.
The toys they choose.
The spaces where they feel comfortable.
The people who make them feel welcome.
These small moments help shape a child’s experience and can make a lasting difference to how they feel about family time.
At springcare, putting children first is more than a theme for National Child Contact Centre Week—it is a principle that guides everything we do.
Because when we understand a child’s experience, we are better able to support their wellbeing, strengthen family relationships, and create positive outcomes for the future.
Check out our instagram where we have a video from a child’s prospective.
National Child Contact Centre Week 2026
Putting Children First
