Start a "My Class" list
Have your child start a list at the beginning of the school year titled "My Class". Keep it on the refrigerator. Ask specific questions about the kids on the list. Little kids might have trouble remembering names and your child might want to talk to you about a child whose name couldn't be remembered.Keeping an on-going list serves as a memory refresher for your child and a conversation starter for you.
Bonus: To encourage literacy, use magnetic letters on the refrigerator and encourage your child to use them to spell names on the list.
Give Your Child Time to Unwind
Think about your own needs after you get home from work. Just like you, kids need time to relax after a long day of school. Try not to jump right in with questions the moment your child gets home from school. You might want to wait until dinner and use this time for conversation.
Ask Specific Questions
Asking questions that only require a one-word answer will produce just that. You can encourage your child to give something more by asking questions that are specific to the situation. Some are:
"What did you do on the playground today?"
"Tell me the best part of the story Mrs. Hughes read today"
"What was something you did in Math today?"
Share Some of Your Day
By sharing how your day went, you are modeling for your child the kind of information you would like to hear from them. "This is what I did today and I felt really good about it because..." "I did this today, it was a bit hard but..." These statements usually lead to questions you can ask your child, "What was one thing you did today that was fun (or hard) for you?"
Practice Your Child's Conversation Skills
If you are not getting the answer you are looking for, it could be that their conversation skills need a little work. Helping kids practice the art of conversation will help them in making new friends. Show them that good conversation starts with eye contact, appropriate body language, and a warm greeting.
Get the Facts Straight
From time to time you may hear information that may alarm or concern you about your child's day at school. Don't ponder the details, ask the teacher! It could be that you and your child's teacher are using different terminology, and your child is confused by the questions. On the other hand, if your child complains about being teased or picked on, repeats a complaint with regularity, or complains of frequent trips to the nurse, there may be a real problem. Calling the teacher or school coounselor is the best way to find out, and get your child the support he/she needs.
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