As your children grow up, it tends to be difficult having a conversation with them, without you looking like you are prying and monitoring them. It is hard initiating a topic that will get them interested and talk more about their day. Although it is hard, you can encourage your kids to talk about their day.
Here are ten ways to help you encourage your kids to talk to you about their day.
1. Take note of conversation stoppers like information overload.
It will be harder for you to encourage your kids to talk about their day when you bombard them with vague questions like, "how was your day?". Your child will have a hard time answering that vague question because there might be many things that happened in his day.
2. Try asking specific questions.
Instead of vague questions, it will be better to ask your child more specific ones like, "who did you sit with during lunch?". Your child will have an easier time answering this, and you will get a specific answer, rather than a response to "my day was okay."
3. Let your child relax.
Your child had been in school the whole day, and it can be tiring, even for a kid. So, let them rest and cool off before initiating a conversation with them. You can also prepare them food or give them their favorite snacks.
4. Know the right place to talk.
Sitting down and being face-to-face with your child while talking can look too serious for them. One right place that you can get your child to communicate is during car rides. It is casual, and your child will feel comfortable talking because you are busy driving.
5. Know the kids' boundaries.
They can feel when you are prying and monitoring them by masking it with a series of questions. In encouraging your kids to talk, you need to know that they also have their boundaries, and if they do not want to talk about something, do not push them.
6. Empathize with your child.
By asking them questions about their day and by your child answering them, they are letting you in their private lives, and it is crucial not to invalidate them.
7. Show the kids gratitude.
Your children may still be children, but it will not hurt you to show them some appreciation when they sincerely talk to you about their day.
8. Do not rain on the kids' parade.
When finally, in encouraging your kids to talk to you, you have succeeded, whatever the stories may be, please do not make them feel that those were nothing. Appreciate your child and their incredible stories.
9. Know the difference between being intrusive and involved.
You are talking to your child because you want to get involved in their lives. However, you should also know your limits.
10. Keeping the conversation going.
Encouraging your kids to talk to you means you should also know how to hold off your horses. Limit your big questions for at least once or twice per day and show your interest in listening to what they want to say. In this way, they will know that you value their words and opinions, and who knows? They will be the ones to initiate a conversation with you the next time.
