Talking to your child about their day is an important aspect in the development of young learners and bridges the gap between home and school. Reviewing the events of the day helps to facilitate connections and reinforce what they have learned in the classroom. It also strengthens a child’s oral language and recall ability.

In order to find out a general scope of the day, ask specific questions. The more specific you are in your question, the better a child will be able to discuss the events of their day with you. Many schools, including Early Learning Foundations Preschool and York Avenue Preschool provide parents with a recap of what went on during the child’s day at school. Review the daily and ask relevant questions. If you see that they had music, ask if they played an instrument. Ask if the teacher had an instrument. These questions will lead to broad responses.

A question such as “What did you read at library” is too broad for a young child as they may not remember what book they read. To get more information, ask “Did you bring a book home from the library?” From here, ask specific questions about the book.

Some ideas to get the conversation rolling….

  • Specials are often a memorable part of the child’s day and is a good place to start the conversation.
  • Snack is a social time of the day and can shed some light into your child’s classroom experience. You can ask who they sat next to and what they talked about.
  • Art is one way children express themselves. When looking at a child’s art, ask them to tell you about their “work.” Rather than being positive or negative about it, give the child a chance to explain it on their own terms. One day the piece might be a house, another day it could be an elephant. Gather new information by what they tell you.
  • Listen carefully. Specific questions will lead to a broader conversation. Use what they’re saying and use that information to move the conversation forward.