What do we mean by the phrase ‘listening to the voice of the child’?

The phrase voice of the child is often used in educational settings, health and social work, to describe the valuing of children’s input and contribution to decisions, things that matter to them and outcomes. The voice of the child is more then listening to the spoken voice of children; listening is when we physically hear what others have to say. A quick google search of the dictionary definition of listening refers to listening as the tuning in and hearing sound or the act of paying attention to someone or something you can hear.