Starting school can be a daunting time for children but it can also be a challenging time for parents and carers whose baby is now a big kid and will be without them for 6+ hours a day. They desperately want to know how they are and what they do during this time.

As soon as children are out of school and in the car or walk in the door from the bus, parents want to know, “how was school?”. This will generally always be met with “Fine” or “Good”, and the conversation ends, which does not satisfy the curiosity of parents and carers eager to find out about their little one’s school day.

We have put together a list of 10 different questions you can ask your child after school that is definitely going to get you more information about their day and might even get them started on a conversation.

1. What was the best thing that happened today? What was the worst?

2. What do you do in the beginning/middle/end of the day?

3. Who did you sit with at lunch?

4. Tell me one new thing that you learned today?

5. What games did you play at recess?

6. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why are they funny?

7. What was the thing you most enjoyed today?

8. Did anything happen today that you disagreed with or didn’t like?

9. What are you going to try to do better tomorrow?

10. What books are you reading in class?

The answers that children give could really surprise you. Not only will you find out what happened in the 6+ hours they were at school, but they also provide an opportunity to ask other questions, potentially uncovering likes and dislikes or issues you weren’t aware of.

You don’t have to ask all the questions. Start with 4 or so and see what happens.

Here’s hoping your child’s school day will be a mystery no more and wonderful conversations will be started in your home.

Begin Bright can help your child with any uncertain feelings they may have about starting school, as well as extra support in subjects they may be struggling with. Enrol in one of our School Readiness or Primary Booster programmes today!