"Nothing Much"

I have talked with many parents who express some frustration when they ask their children about school. The typical interaction looks like this:

"Hey son, what did you learn in school today?"


Dramatic Pause


"Nothing"

So now you know why we ave frustrated parents...

Here is a link with tips I found online today to help out- here are a few of my own:

1. Ask with a sincere interest and passion. I mean get into the information because it is something you want to enjoy with your kid- they feel the enthusiasm in your voice. It is one way to give them positive attention- and you know when we spend time listening and caring it is an investment in their emotional bank accounts. So don't ask if it is just a polite question- get excited.
2. Be specific. When they are reading a book get interested in the characters. Ask- what did you read in school today? Which character surprised you? Which character is most like you and why? You can then get into each subject specifically- what did you write about? Did you build something is science? Tell me about Social Studies today- then enjoy their experiences by probing.
3. Communicate with the teachers and find out what themes/topics are coming up.

I tell you- these kids will not know what hit them when we beef up our questioning skills and our enthusiasm.