articles, blogs & news

We have all tried to find out about our child's day and been given the answers 'I don't remember', 'fine', or 'good'. It tells us absolutely nothing about the school experience! If you are anything like me, you'll find this very frustrating. I want to know it all!

I was a primary teacher for 10 years so I know just how busy a school day is,  just how many different activities, experiences and learning opportunities there are. However, now I am a parent and I know just how difficult it can be to find out what happened between 8:45am and 3:15pm!

For some children, often they have packed so much into a day that they genuinely can't recall what happened without some prompts.

I sometimes ask those questions which rarely get a good response - What did you do today? What did you learn today? I know I am not going to find out any details. The trick is to ask something that can lead on to a conversation, something that will trigger a memory for your child, even something small  that will engage them and get the ball rolling  

Here are a few ideas - try them out. It may take time for your child to get used to opening up and talking about their day but persevere. These are conversation starters, use them to get the ball rolling. This is now my favourite part of the day.

• Tell me about the best part of your day?
• Who did you sit beside at lunch?
• What snack did you have today?
• What sound did you learn in phonics?
• Did anyone make you laugh today?
• Tell me something you read in class?
• Show me something you learned or did today?
• Who did you play with outside?
• What did you do today that was easy?
• What was the hardest thing you did today?
• Tell me something that made you smile today?
• Did you help anyone today?
• Tell me your top 2 things from today?
• If you could choose, who would you love to sit next to in class?
• Where is your favourite place in school?
• If we bumped into your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about today?
• What did you do today that made you feel proud?
• Did you do anything today that made your teacher say 'well done'?
• Who made you laugh the most today?
• Who in your class is most likely to win X Factor?
• What's the hardest rule to follow in school?
• How would you rate your day out of 10?
• If you could swap (packed) lunches with anyone else who would it be?
• What made your teacher smile today?

Good luck! 
Jane