The discussion is divided into four major sections corresponding to the questions of how, when, where, and by whom a child witness should be interviewed to diminish potential distortions and enhance the trustworthiness of the child's remembered account. The role of the interviewer in adopting a supportive attitude that encourages recall of the child's actual memories is emphasized. The importance of timing and frequency in the conduct of child interviews and the actual interviewing process are discussed. Consideration is paid to the need to encourage a spontaneous account, the need to avoid specific and leading questions, the use of anatomically detailed dolls and other nonverbal recall aids, and the use of age-appropriate language. 121 references