The importance of familiarisation when doing research with young children

Becoming familiar with 'the field' location and its inhabitants is a natural and important part of ethnographic research. However, little has been written about how operationalising a 'familiarisation period' within an ethnography can form the foundation on which fieldwork can be built. By reflecting on the experience of employing a familiarisation period within an ethnography with young children, this paper explores how key principles may be used to enhance research practice. The paper argues that the outlined principles of familiarisation are an important aspect of ethnography which need to be engaged with at the start of a study and also form a part of the reflexive process of 'being in the field'. It is also argues that the familiarisation can be an important tool in effectively accessing children's 'voice' and working with so-called 'hard to reach' groups.