These approaches represent an effort to reach children on their own level and to give them the opportunity to communicate with adults in their own verbal and nonverbal language. Before conducting an evaluation, evaluators should gather as much information as possible about the child, the family, and the background leading to the suspicion of sexual abuse. To work with young children effectively, evaluators should try to be childlike and should use such tools as dolls, art materials, and puppets. The ideal interview plan should include three 1-hour sessions. The interview process has three distinct phases: initial contact, information-gathering, and closure. During the evaluation, the interviewers may be confronted with difficult issues, such as the handling of a male victim, lying, and indications that the alleged abuse is a custody ploy. Evaluators should keep good notes. They should not expect to be popular with either the child victim, the parents, attorneys, or the police. Detailed suggestions are provided for handling each interview phase. For the full volume of which this is a chapter, see NCJ 104510.