"What did you do in school today?"
"Nothing."
Are you tired of constantly hearing this response from your child? Do you wonder what it would take to get a real answer to your question?
Try two things. First, ask specific questions. Simply asking what the child did in school is too general. The child has to figure out what the parent might be interested in; whether the parent wants to hear about successes, problems or ordinary events; and whether an answer will lead to criticism (Is that all you did?) or praise. It’s easier to simply avoid the entire question.
So try asking questions such as these:
What story did your teacher read to you today? Tell me about it.
Who did you eat lunch with?
What did you write in your Journal?
What game did you play at recess?
Did you draw or paint a picture today? Tell me about it.
The second way to approach this is to tell your child something about your day. This models the behavior that you want and indicates the kind of topics which should be discussed.
Finally, before asking about your child’s day, try putting a snack out on the table. Sit with your child and share the treat. It’s easy to have a conversation while sitting and eating; it’s not easy when a child is running off to play.
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