Dear ICS Community,

Conferences & Conversations

Having returned from Fall Break and heading into Parent-Teacher Conferences, I see this time of year as a great opportunity to strengthen conversations between home and school. Having the opportunity to talk with teachers about your child’s strengths and next steps is not something to be missed.

It’s also a great time of year for deeper conversations with your child about what’s important to them. In my house, that includes conversations about university and playdates, as we have both a senior and a fifth grader. We’re often juggling the needs and interests of very different ages, which is fascinating and, at the same time, brings me joy. It’s been a blessing to walk alongside my children and to see them grow and develop into who God has called them to be. 

The conversations look different at each stage, but I find myself coming back to many of the same questions: Are they feeling connected and cared about? What is challenging them? How are they growing in independence? How are they approaching their faith and relationship with God?

Growing up, the dinner time was always when my parents would check in with questions about school, friends and upcoming activities, followed by family devotions. While I don’t remember the specific conversations, I do know how that daily time together made me feel: I knew how important I was to my parents, as dinnertime together was always a priority for them.  

Sometimes I feel like life today is so much busier than it ever was for my parents at the same stage of life, especially with digital input so easily at hand. If you’re finding it challenging to be intentional with your time to have meaningful conversations with your child, here are a few questions you could ask to get a few conversations started. Your child’s responses may also highlight something worth sharing with their teacher during conferences:

• What is something you’ve learned or done at school that you feel proud of?

• What has been challenging for you lately?

• Where have you noticed God’s love lately?

• What is something you’d like to get better at or learn more about?