Post 201
A friend mentioned to me recently that she has been having a hard time getting her daughter to tell her any particulars about school. She only tells her the bare minimum and sometimes that’s hard to pull out of her. If your child is the same way, relax, it’s perfectly normal.
First of all, I think we need to remember how tired children are after a long day of school. Think about yourself after work. Frequently it’s the last thing we want to talk about when we get home! Your little one may be the same. Sometimes giving them time to have a snack and decompress before asking much is a good strategy.
You may also hear bits and pieces rather than a list of what went on all at once. My friend finds that more comes out about school when she colors with her daughter. I think that’s a great idea! Her little one is relaxed doing something she likes with her mom and therefore more likely to share.
Another way I have found works is to ask your child specific questions rather than general ones. Instead of “What did you do all day” try something such as “What book did your teacher read today” (there’s always at least one) or “Who did you play with during recess”. Asking something like “Did you get to use markers in Art today” will usually elicit more information than “Did you go to Art today”. Be patient and try not to bombard your child with questions the minute they get home. ( I know…it’s hard! Lol)
Of course, if your little one is one of those who loves to tell you everything about their day, enjoy it! But, if not, don’t give up. Tailor a couple of these ideas to them and they they will eventually share…with a little nudge from you! 😀
Take Care. 🙂
**If you have found a strategy that works with your child…such as the coloring one mentioned…please share it in the comments. We can all get good ideas from each other! Thanks.
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