How Was School?

It’s been a while since I have written about dinnertime conversations with your children (CLICK HERE).  Recently, particularly in light of the frequency of school shootings and cases of sexual abuse, as parents, we simply need to know more than just our child’s academic progress and a casual question, “How was school?”.

Dinnertime conversation when we talked about what happened in school each day was a staple as I grew up.  Each day my mother, father, brother, and I sat down for dinner together and talked–no smart phones, no iPads/tablets, no TV.  Importantly, Heide and I made it an essential element in our son’s life also while he was growing up.   My wife and I would routinely ask “How was school?” and we would ask followup questions to assure that all was well.  Those conversations were a window into his universe and provided us with greater understanding of his successes and challenges, both academic and interpersonal.

How children view school, their relationships with peers, teachers and other adults, their acts of kindness, compassion and happiness, knowing who their friends are, etc. are too important for us to be unaware.

I recently read an article that I want to pass on listing “25 Ways to Ask Your Child “So how was school today?” Without Asking “How was school today?”  I was impressed that the list is a thoughtful set of questions whose answers give you insight into your child’s views, feelings, self-concept, and interactions with others.  It’s a simple list of questions but, if you have a school-age child or grandchild, the questions gives you a lens through which to view your child’s school day interactions.

Although there are other such articles/lists available on the web (e.g., 50 Questions …), I think the article above is a good place to start (you can click on the link above).  It’s not necessary to ask all of the questions each day but probing more than just “How’s school?” will give you ways of viewing your child’s school life