This article presents research carried out in Northern Ireland by Professor Lundy. She proposes a model of listening to and engaging with children based on 4 key elements: space, voice, influence and audience.
In other words, listening to children is about giving children the opportunity to express their views, helping children in forming their views, actively listening to children and taking their views seriously by letting children know how their views were taken into account when making a decision.
By adopting Lundy's model, "Article 12 can make a unique and powerful contribution to the creation of a children's rights culture in schools" (p.940), and I would add, in early childhood settings too.