Finding out about their first day of school

If you read my "Back to School" post, and you followed the "training camp" weekly goals, you and your child(ren) probably felt *a little* more prepared for the transition back to school.  That's not to say it went perfectly smoothly - regardless of the prep, there are bound to be strong feelings about returning to the classroom.

But, for better or worse, you made it.  Your child is halfway (or more) through their first day of school.  You're excited (maybe nervous, too) to hear about their day, their teacher, their friends, and everything that happened.  You'll see them later today and probably ask something along the lines of "How was it? What did you do?"

For some of us, kids included, those types of questions can be overwhelming.  Because to summarize an 8 hour day, that probably contained a lot of activities, thoughts, and feelings, into a sentence or two is daunting.  Try flipping the script on the questions you ask, and you may get all of the details you're yearning to hear about. You know your child best, so word things however feels right for you, but here are some ideas:

• What was the funniest/hardest part/happiest/scariest part? 
• Did you meet anyone new? Was there anyone in your class you've met before?
• Can you draw what your classroom looks like, or describe where your desk is in the room?
• Who was at your table for lunch?
• What are you worried/excited about for tomorrow? 
• Tell me about your favorite and least favorite times of the day.

Asking questions over the course of the evening, instead of rapid-fire in the car ride home or at the dinner table, may give your kiddo the space to expand on his/her thoughts voluntarily and minimize the feeling that they are being interrogated.  Allowing them some time to recharge their batteries (through play, reading, or just resting on their own) before initiating a conversation about the day may also promote their interest in talking about the day.  

Good luck - sometimes getting information from kids can feel like prying open a treasure chest with 18 locks; but be patient, and ask specific questions to help them sift through the details of the day. And if you get an unexpected answer, or your kiddo doesn't want to talk about it - that's okay! Pressuring them to talk will only leave you both frustrated, so allow them the choice to determine when and if they want to talk. If a conversation isn't in the cards, try cooking dinner together, taking a walk, or another family activity that your child enjoys which allows you to be together without requiring them to re-live the school day.