As children grow and develop, so does their communication. Asking about your child’s day may have elicited a lot of stories from their days in preschool and kindergarten, but as many parents experience, those conversations can sometimes change to a one word response known as “fine.” Having conversations with your children is a great way to build Social and Emotional Skills. Getting creative about the questions you ask at the end of a school day can open the door to conversation that not only reinforces skills, but promotes bonding.
If your older elementary age child shares an experience they had during their day, it is important to practice active listening. Allow your child to share their entire experience while actively listening and avoiding distractions. Staying neutral when you do respond is also critical which can reinforce future sharing. Children need to know that they can talk to their parents/caregiver without the fear of an undesirable response. Listed are some prompts that can open the door to conversation, as well as ways to respond neutrally to the things your child may share.
Try some of these questions to engage in conversation;
- What is something funny that happened today?
- What did you do that was kind today? Did you notice others doing anything kind?
- How would you rate your day on a scale of 1-5? Why?
- What have you been playing during recess lately? Who have you been playing with?
- What was your favorite part of the day? Why?
- Did you do anything that you were proud of today?
Neutral Response:
- Tell me more about that.
- How did you feel when that happened?
- How did you handle that situation?
- How do you feel about the way things turned out?
- Would you do anything differently in the future? Why/Why not?
- Thank you for sharing that with me.
- Do you want any ideas?
By asking probing questions and active listening, the doors of communication will have a better chance of remaining open. This is essential as children continue to grow into their teens. Set the stage now for long-term positive communication.
You got this!
– Renee Caballero