Questions

[SuzySunshine]

Give me your best questions that actually get answers out of your kids about their school day?

My standard, what did you like best, gets the standard response of "recess"!

[weeniegeniewife]

I use a variant of that: "Tell me about the best part of your day."

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

One of the parenting podcasts I listen to [amazing series done by The Village Church in TX] recommended "who did you sit with at lunch?" to loosen kids up, talk about their friends, etc. and then transition toward the more school-type topics.

[scrub-jay]

Montessori is a little different, but I ask:
"What work did you get a lesson on today?"
"What was your favorite work in the classroom today?"

Work = Activity


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[Pollyanna]

I am more specific: how was math? Who did you sit next to at lunch? What game did you play at recess? What story did your teacher read today? Did you enjoy it?
Stuff like that. Some if my kiddos are HUGE talkers and others not so the same questions will elicit different types if responses from each child.

[ladymoreta]

Haha! DS's response is always "I played outside!", even when it's rainy and I know they stayed in. Eagerly looking for answers in this thread!

[L.Jane]

If I get recess as my answer, I then ask what their favorite subject was that day and why. If I know they have a special that day (art, music, pe) I specifically ask them what they did in that class.

[Auspicious]

I always start with What was the snack today? (really trolling for ideas for us to bring when it's our turn!) and What did you do in art/music/p.e. etc.? since "related arts" is the last period of the day and those things both change daily. Also what did you choose during centers? (Usually the drawing center.) I also ask what was the best and worst thing that happened. Hopefully "nothing" for worst, but it opens the door to tell me if anything unseemly happened.

ETA: cross-posted!

[spotty_dog]

"You had library/PE/art/technology today. How did that go?" "Did you do anything with numbers or shapes?" "Did you have a reading group?" "Who did you play with at recess?" "Did you have an episode of Arthur or a Tumblebook at the end of the day?" "Was there something new or different about your day?"

[GrayMatterWife]

"Tell me about one new fact you learned today."

"Did you see anybody do something really good...or really bad?"

"What color dress/pants was your teaching wearing today?" (just to see if they are paying attention).

"What is something out-of-the-ordinary that happened to you today?"

"How many kids were absent from your class today?"

[PrincessFiona]

I try to keep my questions open-ended. That way there is a lot of room for them to talk. I find if I ask a "what was your favorite" question or one they can answer quickly, I get a limited response.

I might ask what were the fun things about today? How is (insert friend's name)?

[PrincessFiona]

I also often say "tell me about your day"

[peggyfromwastate]

You should be a fly on our wall at dinner--- all the kids (including the teen) are fighting to tell us what they did. I asked a lot if open ended questions back in the day.... And now I almost have to set a timer for each one. I need one of those talking sticks so that everyone gets a chance to share.

Anyway they usually share more about friends and teachers who assigned weird assignments and funny things that happened during breaks. No one really wants to talk about what they are learning until they get into the middle grades and start hearing political speak and discussions on controversial topics. Then they ask my POV and they give their impressions... They usually initiate these discussions though. You have a few years yet!!!!

For my dd5 now--- it's more of a check in to see if there's anything special she wants to tell me. And it always has to do with some social something.

[samssugarmomma]

I ask my 5 yr old -
- what letter did you sit on at circle time?
- who did you sit next to?
- what color were you on today? And the follow up, what did you do to get there?
- what was the story about at circle time?

A lot of her answers are 'I dunno' and that is perfectly normal for the age. Seriously. Dh and the teacher said so.


My 3 year old
- who was the line leader?
- what did you have for snack?
- did you learn a new song today?
- did you play inside or outside?


My 8 year old talks non stop about every aspect of her day so I don't have to ask anything.

[Sheherezade]

We usually make a game of these types of conversations. Name your best and worst for today - and mom goes first with hers. Dad always, always, always has any free food as his best moment if the day. We also do "three stories" were we just tell things about our day with one story totally made up. Then, we try to guess the made up one. I think hearing mom and dad and siblings share info helps kids share too.