Parenting Pointers: Getting a Preschooler to Talk About Their Day

 

Getting a preschooler to talk about their day often sounds like this …

Parent: How was school?!?

Preschooler: Fine.

Parent: What did you do?

Preschooler: Nothing.

Parent: Nothing? Come on, tell me what happened today. Did you learn anything?

Preschooler: No.

Parent: How were your classmates?

Preschooler: Fine.

Parent: …

How can parents get their preschooler to open up when the preschooler seems so uninterested in talking? Here are some things to keep in mind and to try.

Note: While this article is written specifically for parents of preschoolers, some of the concepts can certainly be used with older children and teenagers. 

Short Memories

The first thing to keep in mind is that your kid may be telling the absolute truth when their response to your question is, “I don’t remember.”

Preschool kids are still developing their working memories, and that process is different for every child. Instead of asking broad questions and expecting them to know the answer, ask specific ones to help them recall a memory. (More on that later.) It’s very possible the memory is literally gone, though. Accept it and keep going. 

Give Them A Moment

Don’t you like a little down time right after you get home from work? Kids are no different. Whether it’s bedtime battles, tantrums, or back-to-school stress, not getting necessary transition time can be a big reason why big emotions are present. 

Transitions can also be what’s behind a child’s reluctance or inability to talk about their day. If their brains haven’t had the chance to shift from “I’m in school" to “I’m with family," asking them questions too quickly can clog up their thinking. Pair that with their still-developing language skills, and it’s not really surprising that their answer to what they did today is, “Nothing.”

So let them relax right after school. Let them eat, read a book, and feel like they're in charge of their world for a bit. Then ask about their day. 

  See the full article (including three strategies for parents):  Getting a Preschooler to Talk About Their Day