More than “How was your day?”
We feel lucky to be able to spend school days with your child(ren) as they learn new skills and interact with their peers. We want you, as caregivers, to be able to communicate with your child about their day at Probstfield. Finding out these details can be tricky and stressful at times. To help with this communication, try these tips:
Connect with your child first- Before jumping into conversation, take some time to connect with your child. This could include high fives, hugs, making a snack together, telling jokes or even greeting them with a “ Hey, I am so happy to see you!”
Tell them about your day. Our kids are more likely to open up to us if we open up to them. We are also modeling for our kids this communication as this is a skill that needs to be learned.The key in this is to keep the information you are sharing with them appropriate for your child's age.
Ask Open- Ended Questions. These are questions that ask for a fuller answer (not just a simple “yes” or “no”).
Talk without eye contact- Yes, this sounds silly but can really help get the conversation going as it prevents your child from feeling like they are getting put on the spot.. One of the most popular times to talk is while driving. Other options include: while preparing supper, while doing dishes, or relaxing in the same room together.
Sample questions to ask:
What made you smile?
If you could trade lunches with someone, who would it be?
What was the easiest part of your day? What was the hardest?
Think about your day. What is something you would like to know more about?
What new word did you learn today?