Parenting Tips

 
     How do I bridge the generation communication gap?

What did you do in school today?

     Are you tired of asking your child, "What did you do in school today? Only to hear, ‘Nothing," "I don’t know" or "I played."

     Try asking the question differently and see if you get better answers. Many times children have difficulty remembering because it’s hard to start at the beginning. When they go home, their day becomes history. It’s over and they go on to the next thing in their lives. These a few suggestions to help you find out about your child’s day.

     Avoid general questions like, "What did you do in school today?"

     Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no," such as, "Did your teacher like your show and Tell rock?" or "How was school?" or "Do you have any homework?"

     Instead get specific. Say,

"Who did you play with today?"

"What toys did you play with?"

"What was at the art center?"

"Tell me about the shape you’re learning this week."

"What choices did you make at playtime today?"

""What does "special helper" mean?""

"What do you like most about preschool?" "Why?"

"What did you play on outside today?"

"What story did your teacher read to you?"  "What did you like the best in the story?"

     These types of questions should get better answers which could even lead you and your child into some interesting and informative conversations. Best wishes as you begin building your bridge over the Communication Generation Gap!