August 2022: "How Was Your Day?" Getting More than, "Good."
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Raise your hand if your child over shares about their school day? Raise your hand if your child readily shares details about their day, their emotions, their challenges and joys? This is a gift!
School is a huge part of your child’s life. Experiential learning around making and keeping friends, self-management, navigating the social landscape, reading social cues, processing external stimuli, managing materials, following directions, focusing for extended periods of time, exploring art, music, physical fun, hands on science and the world, keeps kids busy.
For some kids, the school day can be energizing and fun. For other students, the school day may challenge their nervous system. For most kids, the school day is a combination of both. Your children learn to manage this world outside of the home and you, as their caregiver, want a window into this complex world away from you. If you have a child who typically gives one word answers to your probing questions, it is likely they need a break. Their brains need to decompress. Consider the following ideas when trying to engage.
First, consider the time and place. If your child is quiet after school, maybe the best time to talk is at bedtime or during dinner.
Put the tech down. Establish rules around when and where technology can be used after school. Using screens to decompress isn’t always the most developmentally appropriate idea. “Hang it up” when engaging in conversation. Tech can be distracting. Give your child your full attention and expect the same from them.
Use open ended questions. This is a question that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” response.
Tell me about recess?
You had your presentation today. What were some questions you were asked?
What was the funniest, most challenging, most annoying thing that happened today?
Who do you sit with/near in you classroom? What is it like sitting next to them?
If you could choose to participate in one specials for a whole month, which would it be? Why?
Tell me one thing you did that made you feel proud today?
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