Asking your preschooler about their day

As a parent, you’re constantly asking all of the questions and hoping for some exciting answers from your little ones. But do you often find when you ask about their day when you pick them up from preschool, you’re faced with the same, one-word responses every time? Good or fine – or sometimes no response at all. 

While it can be frustrating, it’s actually perfectly normal for them to do this. After a big day of learning and play they can be overstimulated, overwhelmed and tired. Trying to get them to remember what they did and tell you about their days is no small feat. 

Often it can be a good idea to wait until they have had a little time to calm down, once they are home and playing quietly, over dinner or after their bath when they’re ready for bed. 

It can also be helpful to pump up the post-school conversations a bit, and instead of asking yes or no questions, try adding in conversation starters that will excite them and get them wanting to talk. 

Some examples are:

1. What was the funniest thing that happened today?
2. What was the best thing you did today?
3. Who did you play with at lunch today? What games did you play?
4. Tell me about your teacher. What are they like?
5. Can you tell me an example of kindness you saw today?
6. What was something that upset you today?
7. Was there something you learned that surprised you?
8. What was the most exciting thing you learned?
9. What are you looking forward to about tomorrow?
10. Teach me something you learned.

Connecting with your little one after a long day can be difficult but by trying a few different openings or leading questions you should be able to cultivate quality conversations. The goal is to get them to use more than two words, so get creative! But don’t forget, that just like us our kids all have off days and sometimes it’s best not to push it. Leave them and try again tomorrow. Soon they’ll be chatting your ear off about all their friends and teachers.