‘How was your day?’
An innocent enough question.
Traditionally followed by ‘fine’ or ‘OK’, before the conversation branches off into other avenues.
You know that if you want to get a better answer, you’re going to have to ask a better question. And if you want to know the ins and outs of your child’s day, sometimes this cliche quip just won’t cut it. Instead, try switching it up with the clever alternatives.
How were you kind today?
Highlighting the importance of kindness in everyday life is something every parents wants to do. Children can be under a lot of peer pressure outside the home, which may lead to behaviour that is less than pleasant. Asking your child to pay attention to acting kind towards others, promotes the idea of this importance even further. If you recognise the value of seemingly small acts of kindness, like lending a pencil to a classmate who has forgotten theirs or inviting someone who is alone to join in on a game in the school yard, it can have significant effect on their social development.
How did someone help you today?
It is as equally important that the kindness of others is recognised and appreciated. Ask your child to recall a time during the day that a classmate, a friend or even a teacher was kind to them. Did they appreciate this helping hand? Did they say thank you? Did they do something nice in return? This one can be the start of an interesting conversation.
When were you happiest today?
In a sometimes dreary world, it’s not only children who should cherish the happy moments of the day. This can be a great way to find out what excited your child and discover previously unknown facets of their sense of humour, all the while having a good giggle. Hey, not all parenting conversations have to be tough!
When were you bored or sad today?
Knowing which subjects or activities fail to stimulate your little boy or girl can be useful to deciphering their strengths and weaknesses in school. No day can be 100 per cent happy, just as no day is totally sad. What’s important is helping your child identify the thing that makes them bored or sad and teaching them how to deal with it.
What do you think you should learn more about at school?
This can garner some crazy responses, from dinosaurs to magic! But it can also be a fun way to encourage their imagination. If they were the teacher tomorrow, what would they teach more of? They could even surprise you with answers like maths, English or science, revealing an interest in a classroom subject which you can happily help them pursue in the future.
Once children enter the school days it can become more difficult to stay fully apprised of their activities, likes and dislikes, therefore, making time for quality-time is vital. To help make your day run more efficiently, take a look at your new and improved morning routine, from the m&i team.