Favouring active involvement: hard with child (5-2)
I believe the answer is:
hands-on
'favouring active involvement' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'hard with child' is the wordplay.
'hard' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications).
'with' becomes 'and'.
'child' becomes 'son' (son is a kind of child).
'h'+'and'+'son'='HANDS-ON'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hands-on that I've seen before include "Transmits" , "Involving practical participation rather than theory" , "Practical, working something directly - or manually" , "Practical (training)" , "Giving personal attention (to)" .)