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Article 50 Questions To Ask Your Child, Instead Of ‘How Was Your Day’

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Asking a child how their day was when they finish the school day can be similar to talking to a brick wall. They’re tired, hungry, emotional – and all we want to know is whether they’ve had a good day!

If you want something more than a one-word answer, it takes a little more thought than simply asking, “How was your day?” So we asked our Mouths of Mums community to help us come up with a list of questions they ask their kids after school, that are sure to get a response.

There are a few ground rules when it comes to getting your kids to open up to you after school, keeping in mind that every child is different. Some absolutely LOVE talking about their day, and others won’t open up no matter how much you try. But if you arm yourself with a bunch of interesting after-school questions, you’re bound to get them opening up eventually.

Just keep in mind:

  • Some kids need time to decompress after school, so if they’re not keen to chat on the way home, that’s ok. Let them have a snack and a play and try again later in the afternoon, or even before bed.
  • Try using open-ended questions. These are questions that require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. For example, asking “How was your day” leaves you open to getting the standard response: “Fine”.
  • Mix up your questions each day, and you’ll be surprised how much you learn about your child.
  • Let your kids ask you the same questions about your day!

Downloadable After-School Questions List

Save this handy list of questions to your phone. Just press and hold on the list below and click ‘download image’ or ‘add to photos’ and it will be on your phone when you need it.

Questions to ask your child

downloadable checklist (750 × 130 px)

 

 

 

 

Make sure you come and join in the conversation on Facebook and add your interesting question idea:

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  • I love this list!! I always try to ask my daughter what her favorite part of the day was aa opposed to just “how was your day”. It definitely gets me more answers. I will have to try some of these other suggestions too.

    Reply

  • Love the ‘were you helpful to anyone today?’ because it promotes kindness and thinking!

    Reply

  • Specific open ended questions are the best to ask. My favourite is “what was the best thing you did today”

    Reply

  • My son used to get in the car and download his entire day to me on the drive home — with all the emotion and angst that went with it. He’s on the spectrum and it was his way of dealing with the stress and challenge of the day.

    Reply

  • This is amazing, I usually see my child’s mood and then start a conversation. However, different ways to ask questions is really helpful. Thanks MOM!

    Reply

  • Thats a long lost to remember! But might help some mamas. Sometimes children need time to calm down after school before they talk. They have had a long day and need to relax like us. I cant say for others but when i come home from somewhere and someone starts asking questions straight away, i dont feel like answering either.

    Reply

  • I find that waiting till they’ve had something to eat means they’re more talkative.

    • Hungry children can be quite grumpy and aren’t much talkative indeed 🙂

    Reply

  • Wish all the mums’ luck with the list. Sometimes your child really isn’t talkative and doesn’t wat to say anything not even hello or hi. Other children just can’t stop chattering about their day or what they have just done. One has to take the type of child you have into account with this as well, not just the questions.

    Reply

  • saved it for when bubs is at school ina few years

    Reply

  • I have 3 kids in school. For one of them, getting any information at all is almost impossible no matter what questions you ask. The other two compete with each other to see who can give the most detailed answers…

    Reply

  • This is great help. My grade 2 doesn’t tell me a word, good or bad. I’m looking forward to using these helpful tips.

    Reply

  • Thank you so much for this great list of questions!

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  • That’s a great list with suggestions 🙂

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  • one of my school age children tells me everything about their day, the other one hardly says a word. It is very much dependant on the child too .

    Reply

  • I absolutely love this list and will be implementing it next week!

    Reply

  • Love it! Really would have loved to have asked some of these questions a few years ago; would have got a great insight into what happened of interest.. but it’s not too late …. Will have to make up my own version for ‘uni’! .. in fact hubby at office too!

    Reply

  • I always ask, what would you like to do before we go home?

    Reply

  • My daughter is 3 and most of the time she doesn’t really answer.
    Other times I’m lucky and she tells me all about her day!

    Reply

  • This is perfect timing, I really struggle with this so hopefully these suggestions will help build a better conversation with my daughter.

    Reply

  • Some good suggestions there.

    Reply
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