How to Talk About School With Your Child Without Making It Feel Like an Interrogation

When "How Was School?" Becomes a Wall You're standing by the sink, scrubbing vegetables for dinner, and your child walks in, backpack askew, face unreadable. You try: "How was school?" "Fine." "What did you do today?" "Nothing." Maybe

How Oral Expression Impacts Your Child’s Well-Being at School

Why Talking Openly Matters More Than You Think Imagine this: your child walks out of school, backpack slung over their shoulder, face unreadable. You ask how the day went. "Fine," they mumble. And just like that, the door to their inner world seems tightly closed again. For many

How Storytelling Can Help Your Child Open Up About School

Why It's So Hard for Kids to Talk About School You pick your child up from school, the sun is shining, you've finally made it to the end of another exhausting day—and there it is: the question you’ve asked a hundred times before. “How

How to Encourage Your Child to Talk About School Without Interrogating Them

Understanding the Silence After School It’s 3:45 p.m. The backpack hits the floor, the shoes come off in the hallway, and your child heads straight for the fridge. You smile and ask, “So, how was school?” And then it comes—the classic one-word reply: “Fine.” If this

How to Support Your Child When They Struggle to Fit In at School

When fitting in feels impossible You notice it in the mornings—how slow your child is to tie their shoes, eyes down, backpack hanging low. "Do I have to go today?" becomes a familiar phrase. At first, you think it’s a phase. Maybe a friend moved away.

What Kids Reveal When We Truly Give Them Time to Talk About School

When Conversations Don’t Go as Planned You ask, “How was school?” and they murmur, “Fine.” You press—gently—but still, nothing. The window closes. There’s dinner to make, homework to supervise, baths to draw. The moment passes. Again. If you’re the parent of a child between six

When and How to Ask the Right Questions About School to Your Child

The wrong moment can close a door Imagine this: you've just picked your daughter up from school. She's flushed, backpack slung low, eyes glazed from a long day. You ask, "How was school?" She shrugs. "Fine." You try again: "What did

How to Talk to Your Child About School Struggles Without Shutting Them Down

When Your Child Starts to Pull Away If you've ever asked your child, "How was school?" and got little more than a shrug or a grunt in return, you're not alone. For parents of children aged 6 to 12, especially those who are already

What to Say When Your Daughter Thinks School Is Useless

When Your Child Says “School Is Pointless” It hits like a punch in the gut—the moment your daughter comes home, slumps on the couch, and says with a sigh, "School is useless." Your first instinct might be to respond with a lecture, or to explain all the

What to Do When Your Child Says They're 'Bad at School'

When your child says, “I’m just no good at school” It can be heartbreaking to hear those words. You see your child’s potential, their curiosity, their creativity... and still, they come home from school with slumped shoulders and the belief that they’re simply not good enough. If

Why You Should Always Take Your Child’s School Stories Seriously

Listening Between the Lines After a long day, when your child slumps into the back seat and mutters, "School was fine," it's tempting to let it go—especially when you’re juggling dinner plans, work emails, and maybe a younger sibling melting down in the car

My Child Is Afraid to Speak to Their Teachers: What Can I Do?

Understanding the Fear Behind the Silence It starts with a whisper: "I don't want to ask." A paused sentence. A nervous glance. For many children between the ages of 6 and 12, the idea of speaking to a teacher—asking a question, requesting help, or even

Why Some Kids Never Want to Talk About Their Grades

When Silence Hides More Than Words You ask the question gently, hoping this time will be different: “How did your math test go?” Your child shrugs, mutters “fine,” and quickly changes the subject. You don’t want to press too hard—but you’re worried. Why the tunnel of silence

How to Encourage Your Child to Share Their School Successes Openly

Why Some Children Stay Silent About Success “How was school today?” you ask, hoping for a window into your child’s day. But all you get is a shrug, a “fine,” and the sound of your backpack-wearing kid disappearing into their room. If this resonates with you, know you’re

When Your Child Finds School Too Easy (or Too Hard)

Understanding What's Behind “Too Easy” or “Too Hard” When your child comes home saying, "School is soooo easy," or sighs, "It's just too hard—I’ll never get it," it can leave you wondering what’s really going on. These opposites—overconfidence

What My Child Says About Friends at School Tells Me So Much More

Listening Between the Lines “How was school today?” You ask it every afternoon, hoping today might be the day your child unloads more than a shrug or a one-word answer. When they finally do open up — maybe it’s during dinner, maybe it’s while brushing their teeth — it’s

What Kids Don't Say About School Between the Ages of 6 and 12

Understanding the Silence Behind 'It Was Fine' If you’ve ever asked your child how their day at school went and received a shrug or a mumbled "fine," you’re not alone. Between the ages of 6 and 12, children begin to internalize complex thoughts and

What Your Child Really Means When They Talk About Class

When a Phrase Is More Than Just Words “School was fine.” “I don’t like my class.” “My teacher doesn’t like me.” These quick, offhand comments might seem like harmless complaints. But to a parent who’s watching their child struggle—sinking into school-related stress, sidestepping homework, or losing

How Does My Child Really See Their Progress at School?

Understanding What Progress Means From a Child’s Perspective When your child comes home from school, you might ask: "How was your day?" And you might get back a shrug, a blunt "Fine," or even silence. As parents, we often try to evaluate our child'

What Kids Say About School Reflects How They Really Feel

Why Their Words Matter More Than We Think Your child hops into the car after school, tosses their backpack in the seat, and stares out the window. You ask, "How was school today?" and get the familiar answer: "Fine." For many parents, this exchange is as

5 Playful Ways to Get Your Child Talking About School

When "How Was School Today?" Doesn't Cut It It’s a familiar scene: You pick up your child from school, their backpack slung low and their face unreadable. You muster your best warm tone and ask, "How was school today?"—only to be met

How to Empower Your Child to Speak Freely About Their School Day

When "Fine" Isn't Enough: Why Your Child Needs More Than a One-Word Answer You ask, “How was your day?” and your child responds, “Fine.” End of conversation. As a parent, you’re left sensing there’s more beneath the surface—confusion during math, a harsh word

What Kids Really Feel Before Walking Into Class Each Morning

Listening Between the Lines It’s 8:07 a.m. You're urging your child to finish their toast, find that missing shoe, and hang up their backpack. The clock is ticking. There’s traffic ahead. And in the swirl of it all — have you ever paused and wondered

Why Listening to Your Child Talk About Their Teacher Matters More Than You Think

Why That After-School Chat Deserves More of Your Attention You've just picked up your child from school. You're juggling snack time, backpacks, maybe a younger sibling in the car seat. You ask, "How was your day?" and hear it—the same familiar response: "

How to Help Your Child Talk About Their Elementary School Experience

Why It's So Hard for Kids to Open Up About School “How was school today?” “Fine.” If you're like most parents, this exchange might sound painfully familiar. You ask with genuine interest, but your child offers little in return. By 6 to 12 years old, kids