“So… how was school today?”
I know, you're a nice person, you want to start a conversation. And I think you're really dying to know how your day at school was. But we know what happens next.
"All good".
"Cool".
"Normal".
Once I even heard a “an-huh”, which doesn't even make sense because he agrees instead of responding.
Asking them how their day was at school might even work for some of them or even on a lucky day. But in 99% sometimes, it doesn't work. Hit and come back.
And I'm not even considering the unfair competition from the child passenger's entertainment center:
This brief forced confinement is worth its weight in gold. It's one of the few opportunities to chat and also a chance to catch up on what's going on at school. So, here are some alternative questions to help you really capture their attention.
Let's go:
20 alternative questions to set the conversation on fire
1. What was the coolest* thing that happened at school today? (*bizarre, *boring, *noisy, *etc)
2. Tell me something that made you laugh today.
3. If you could choose, who would you sit next to you? Why? (or would I ever put it on your side?)
4. What is the coolest place at school?
5. What was the biggest nonsense you heard someone saying today? (yes, you can make up some words)
6. If I met your teacher at the supermarket, what would she say?
7. Did you help anyone today?
8. If we were to make an Avengers video in your class, who would be the Hulk? (and the character changes)
9. Can you teach me something you learned today? (and he acts like a fool, saying “what do you mean?”, “oh yeah?”, “that’s cool! Explain more?”, etc.)
(This has always been my favorite. I think to this day my son thinks I'm the most “limited” one in the house, hehehe)
10. What was the coolest part of the day, the one that made you happiest?
11. Was there a moment when you turned to jelly from boredom?
12. If a flying saucer appeared to kidnap someone, who would you point your finger at?
13. Who would you like to play with at recess but never did?
14. Tell me something really good that happened today.
15. What do you think is your teacher's favorite word? One she keeps talking about?
16. If you were given the school as a gift and became the owner of everything, what would you do?
17. And what would you cancel from what you have today? is there anything?
18. Who is the funniest person in your class? Tell me something she did today.
19. If you were asked to be the teacher tomorrow, for the whole day, what would you do?
20. Of everyone in your pencil case, who works the hardest? Why?
Anyway, it's not a formula and you shouldn't take it too seriously. It's more about the concept of the thing, of using some icebreakers to start a conversation, a very practical tip to be able to talk and also monitor a little of the little ones' routine. The trick is to ask disguised questions, full of fantasies and reaching around the edges.
In fact, the fewer questions you ask, the better. Throw the matter in the air and that's it. Because a “CFNEH?” style point-blank shot puts them on standby. And then they run you off with a “that was cool” and boom, your chance to talk about school is over. You put a flying saucer on the question and it ends up answering much more than you imagine (pay attention to the lines between the answers).
Forced confinement inside the car is a blessing. Enjoy it wisely.
Help other adults: send more suggestions for questions in the comments. The technique has worked for a good few years, but the approach will need to evolve and become much more subtle and intelligent.
The idea for the questions and some of them came from this post.
IMG: Shell114/ Shutterstock
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