Communication is KEY!

Have you ever asked your child "How was your day?" and the most you get out of them is some like one of the following:

"Fine."
"Good."
"Was okay."
Or maybe they already have their headphones on, or their head in the fridge, or they are in need of a nap....anything but talking!

It is important to start the school year with establishing communication as part of their schedule. Carve out a few minutes after they get home or over dinner to ask a couple of good questions.  If they know that is coming on a regular basis, they might even become excited about giving you details.

Get a sense of your child’s life at school by asking questions that elicit more than a one-word response. Try one of these conversation starters:

• Tell me about the best part of your day.
• What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
• Did any of your classmates do anything funny? Tell me about what you read in class.
• Who did you play with/hang out with today? What did you do? Do you think ________(insert subject here) is too hard?
• What’s the biggest difference between this year and last year?
• What rules are different at school than at home? Do you think they’re fair?
• Who did you sit with at lunch?
• Can you show me something you learned or did today?