10 Ice-Breakers To Ask Your Kid Instead Of 'How Was School Today?'

I don’t know about you, but if someone asks me how my day went at work, my default response is usually: “Fine, thanks!” or “yeah, it was OK!”.So it’s no wonder really that when kids are asked “how was school today?”, their responses aren’t illuminating in the slightest. Most parents and caregivers will be met with “fine” – and the conversation dies a death. Research from HelloFresh found 88% of parents get frustrated with one-word answers from their children. But maybe, just maybe, it’s the questions we’re asking that’s the problem here. Ruth Sturdy, founder of children’s memory book provider, Colour Chronicles said the classic question of “how was school today?” is a “dead end”.“It’s a way for us to check a box as parents, but it doesn’t give our children a chance to share the small, funny, or surprising moments that truly define their day,” she said. “Those are the moments we’ll cherish most.”So, what’s the answer? Because I’m also one of these parents who is exhausted by 4pm and doesn’t have much creativity for coming up with fun questions while my hangry kids screech at me. The key, said Sturdy, is to ask questions that encourage your child to be a storyteller, as it allows them to share the details you’ll want to remember and record for years to come. Here’s what she suggested:Questions to ask your child insteadWhat’s one thing you learned today that you didn’t know yesterday?What’s one thing you did today that made you laugh?Who did you play with at lunchtime?If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your day?Did you help anyone today?Research suggests using more open-ended questions can improve children’s language and vocabulary skills – and while the study was among teachers and pupils, we’re sure it won’t be terrible for kids at home, either.Not only that, but Sturdy noted the answers to these questions are often “priceless”.“They’re the authentic little stories, silly thoughts, and big ideas that get lost in the day-to-day,” she added.“By asking the right questions, you can find out more about your child’s life and ensure those memories aren’t forgotten in the long run.”Developmental cognitive neuroscientist and psychologist, Professor Sam Wass, also shared some questions parents might want to ask. Here’s what he recommends:How was (friend’s name) today, what happened to them at school?Did anyone say anything about your new hair style? (Or pencil case, or rucksack, or shoes – anything that your child’s excited about will work!)How was history today? (Or whatever their favourite subject is) What was the best thing that happened to you today?What was the hardest thing that you had to do today?In response to a Reddit post asking for advice on how to get kids to open up about their school day, one commenter said their friend “starts off by not asking them anything but telling them what she’s done during the day”. Her kids then tend to break in and share what they’ve been up to.One parent said they ask their child about what food they ate or who they played with at playtime. They added: “I even throw in cheeky ones like who was naughty or did anyone cry today and she loves to tell me all about that.”Another said they ask: “What was your peak and pit of the day?” (as in the high point and the low point of the day) and that one usually helps their 10-year-old open up.Noted.Related...Can A Lying Game Help Kids Open Up About School? Here's What Therapists SayThis Is What UK Girls Say Puts Them Off Sport At SchoolUrgent Health Warning Issued Ahead Of Kids' Return To School

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