Stop Asking Your Kid How Their Day Was
This works better...
Adult: “How was your day?”
Child: “Fine.”
Adult: “What did you learn today?”
Child: “Nothing.”
Adult: “Who are your friends?”
Child: “No one.”
Ever had an exchange like this with a kid?
Same. There’s a reason for this. These questions are too big and honestly too boring to get kids talking.
Instead, try asking a S.O.C.K. question.
S.O.C.K. questions are:
✨ Specific
✨ Open-ended
✨ Creative
✨ Kid-friendly
The acronym might sound silly, but it is a quick and easy way to screen the questions you are asking the little ones in your life to make sure they are actually engaging and answerable.
Here are a few examples:
If you want to know about your child’s feelings…
What is something that made you smile today?
If you could invent a new feeling, what would it be called? How would you describe it?
If your mood were a type of weather, what would it be? Would it be sunny, cloudy, stormy or something else?
If you want to know about your child’s learning…
Can you teach me how to ….?
What is one thing you learned today?
Can you tell me about a story you heard/read today?
What was your favorite thing you did at school today?
What is something that made you proud at school today?
If you want to know about your child’s relationships…
If you could choose your seat partner, who would it be? Why?
Who is someone at school that makes you feel safe?
Who is someone you played with today?
What games did you play at recess today?
If you want to know about your child’s interests…
If you could be the teacher for a day, what would you teach about?
If you became president, what is the first thing you would do?
Who is someone you’d love to meet in real life?
If you could teleport anywhere, where would you go right now?
“How was your day” is vague, unoriginal, & overwhelming. S.O.C.K. questions are accessible, engaging, & get kids talking.
For a list of 50 free S.O.C.K questions, click HERE.
Looking for even more support connecting with your kiddos?
Check out The Conversation Deck (PDF), a curated collection of 225 intentional questions to strengthen relationships, cultivate community, and enhance learning for only $9.99.
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Get The Conversation Deck