How to Get a Child to Talk About School

The key to getting a child to tell you what happened at school is learning how your child communicates. Some kids will chat with you face to face, while others open up better when seated next to you in the car.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make chatting about the school day with your children a daily event. If you only bring it up after you receive a call from teachers, the kids know the topic means trouble.

2. Ask him specific questions in order to draw out an answer. Ask what he ate for lunch or who he sat with at lunch time.

3. Tell her to relate the best thing that happened to her in school, as well as the funniest thing. Have all of the kids take turns answering the question, so everyone learns about everyone else's day. Communicating funny things is easier than communicating difficult things, and it gives the kids practice discussing the events of their day with you.

4. Let the children communicate in their own words and at their own pace. Don't fill in the words for them.

5. Share your day with them as well. Your children are likely to ask you to answer the same questions you're asking them. Answer their questions just like you expect them to answer yours.

6. Check with each child to find out if they have homework to do or communications to share from the school. Make sure homework is completed and offer to help if needed.