A parent whose child has disclosed a preference to them should consult with an attorney to learn how the child’s preference may be presented to the court in an acceptable, objective manner. 

At its core, hearsay is when a witness in court tries to quote someone who is not a witness in the case about something that the witness claims that person said.

Day-to-day conversations are called "out-of-court statements," and many of those statements fit the definition of hearsay.