(c) Counselling and Information Unit 2: General Issues As with any asylum-seeker who approaches UNHCR offices, children must be provided with the necessary information and support to present their refugee status claims (see Unit 1 – Core Standards for Due Process in Mandate RSD). Information about the RSD process and procedures must be provided as early as possible, and throughout the RSD procedures as necessary (see, for example, § 3.1.3 – Dissemination of Information to Asylum Seekers, § 3.1.4 – Counselling on UNHCR RSD Procedures, and § 7.1.2 – Informing Applicants of the Right to Appeal). Where applicable, information about the availability of legal aid should also be provided as early as possible in the RSD process. In order to permit child Applicants to understand the RSD process and the rights and obligations that ensue and to assist them to present their claim, such information should be provided in a child-friendly and age-appropriate manner. It is recommended that UNHCR Offices develop information materials accessible to children of various ages, cultural backgrounds or specific needs, as well as effective and safe methods of dissemination of such information. Child Applicants and their legal representative, guardian or support person should also be provided with an opportunity to ask questions and to receive additional support and information in understanding the requirements of the RSD procedures at any point during the process. (d) Child-friendly and Age-appropriate Interviewing Techniques Children do not have the same communication skills and may not be able to articulate their refugee status claims in the same way as adults. A child may be too young or lack the level of maturity to evaluate what information is relevant or to recall and recount what they have witnessed or experienced. Depending on their age, background and experiences, children may need to feel rapport and a sense of trust in order to be forthcoming about their reasons for seeking protection. Children are different from adults in terms of access to memory, vocabulary, concrete/abstract thinking, suggestibility, emotions and risk-taking. As such, it is important that interviewing techniques employed are adapted to ensure they are child-friendly and age and gender-appropriate. While older children may be able to engage with a more adult-focused approach, i.e. respond verbally to direct questions in an interview context, children of a younger age or with specific needs, may require alternative methods of communication to put them at ease and enable them to share their experiences. Drawings, role plays, games, storytelling, singing or writing can be useful communication tools with younger children in an interview (see also § 4.3.8 – Interviewing Child Applicants). Children may also require more time for their interview, or several RSD Interviews and more breaks during the interview. 77