Daily Debrief
Take some time each day to debrief with your child about his or her day. Avoid saying, “So, how was your day?” if you routinely get a one word answer, like “Good” or “OK.”
Instead, try some open ended questions like these:
- What was the best thing that happened to you today?
- What was the worse thing that happened to you today?
- What was the funniest thing that happened to you today?
- Who did you sit by at lunch?
- With whom did you play at recess? What did you do?
- Which subject was the most interesting today? What interested you about it?
- What is one way in which you were kind to someone today?
- What’s one really great choice you made today?
- How were you helpful/respectful/honest/hardworking today?
- What’s one thing you did really well?
- What’s one thing you wish you would have done differently?
- How could you do that differently in the future?
Be willing to answer the question yourself, too, if your child asks. You can also check into some games that are available for conversation starters. Use them in the car or at the dinner table. Give everyone a chance to participate, and watch your connections with each other grow.
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