In general, children benefit from knowing what to expect, especially when it comes to new experiences. We recommend letting the child know they will be visiting a safe place to talk with a person whose job is to talk with children, teenagers, and young adults. You can give the child permission to talk freely without any concern they will be in trouble for anything they talk about.
Please do not ask the child any questions regarding what happened, tell them what to say, promise rewards or treats for talking to the interviewer, or ask the child why they did not tell or tell you sooner. In the event a child talks with you about what happened before the interview, remain as neutral and calm as possible. Listen to what the child says, but do not ask for further details or record the conversation. You can support the child by allowing them to talk about what happened in their own way and pace, reassuring them that they are not in trouble.