Do you want to spark some conversation with your kids about their day? Well, here’s a fun tip: start by sharing your own experiences! It’s a well-known fact that kids can talk your ear off about their favorite video games or snacks, but when you ask them, “How was school?” they often turn into the world’s most skilled mimes. Seriously, it’s like pulling teeth!
Take the case of a mom named Jamie Thompson, who faced this dilemma with her reticent son after school. Every time Jamie asked him about his day, he would simply shrug and mumble “nothing.” She tried various techniques, like giving him some time to decompress and asking open-ended questions, but none worked. However, she eventually discovered a clever strategy for getting him to open up: she began to share the details of her own day instead.
Instead of playing the role of an inquisitor, Jamie would talk about her day at work, sharing everything from the minor hiccups to the amusing interactions she had. She’d mention that the printer jammed or how many colleagues had a wild coffee machine encounter. While it may seem boring to recount the mundane, Jamie found that by sharing her own ups and downs, her son was much more inclined to reciprocate and share his experiences too.
“I think he’s curious about what I do when he’s not around,” she explains. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher, a software developer, or a stay-at-home parent; it’s about showing the human side of our lives—what makes us smile, what frustrates us, and the quirky moments we experience. When I model this, he feels more comfortable sharing back.”
This parenting hack is truly brilliant! Nobody enjoys feeling like they’re under scrutiny, and constantly firing questions like, “What did you learn today?” or “Who did you sit with?” can make kids clam up even more. By turning these conversations into a two-way street, you create a much more inviting atmosphere for discussion. Plus, it’s important for kids to know that we parents have lives outside of just caring for them, don’t you think?
So the next time your child goes quiet at the classic “How was school?” question, don’t despair. Just start chatting about your own day instead!
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Summary
Engaging your kids in conversation about their day can often be a challenge, especially when they respond with a simple “nothing.” A clever strategy is to share details about your own day first. This approach not only piques their curiosity but also creates a comfortable environment for them to open up and share their experiences.