“Did anything funny happen today?” Let’s face it, when you’re a kid, there’s always something to laugh at, whether appropriate or not.
“What was your favorite part of the day?” When I ask my own kids this question, their answers often surprise me. More often than not, their favorite part of the day was something small, yet they found it meaningful.
“What was the worst part of the day?” More often than not, this answer revolves around what I’m currently making for dinner or what I did (or did not) pack in their lunches.
“Did you make any mistakes today?” This answer can be illuminating! Kids can be so honest. Follow-up question: How did you fix it?
“What are you reading at school?” I love asking my kids this question. Not only do I get a peek into their reading lives, I sometimes learn about new authors.
“What happened at recess, PE or lunch?” Because something always happens at recess, PE or lunch!
“If you could send a robot to school instead of you for part of the day, which class would you skip?” It’s best to phrase this question to include the school-going robot; otherwise, it might seem like you’re giving your kids a pass to opt out.
“Did you make any new friends today?” Don’t just ask this question at the beginning of a new school year; ask it throughout.
Editor's note: This article was originally published a few years ago and updated for 2023.
