Asking our kids “How was school?” doesn’t usually give a satisfactory answer. Use this list of after school questions to increase engagement and connection!
With school in session, the bulk of our kids’ days are spent away from us. When they get home, it’s easy to want to ask “how was school?” The problem with this question is that it’s too broad. How can your child(ren) sum up the last 6+ hours of their day? Granted, some kids are more willing to expand on their answer to this question. But many simply answer with a response of “fine” or “good”. So what can we do as parents to encourage them to share more about their day with us?
I’ve put together a list of 35 questions you can ask your kids after school, as well as 9 “games” to help you connect with your kids. The great thing about these questions is that you can ask them at any point: when you pick them up from school, when they get home from school (bus, walking), as dinner conversation starters or even as part of your bedtime routine.
35 Questions to Ask Instead of “How Was School?”
- What was your favorite moment from today?
- How was someone kind to you today?
- What was the best part of your day?
- What was the worst part of your day?
- How were you kind to someone today?
- What is something that made you laugh today?
- What did you learn that you didn’t know before today?
- Who did you sit with at lunch?
- Who did you play with at recess?
- What are you most proud of from today?
- What are 3 words to describe your day?
- What is something you are working on in school?
- What is one thing you accomplished today?
- What is one thing that made you smile today?
- What was the most challenging part of your day?
- What was the most boring part of your day?
- If I had been at school with you today, what would I have done with you?
- Can you remember an example of kindness you saw at school today?
- Who did you help today?
- What was the most fun thing you did today?
- What is something beautiful you saw today?
- Did you meet anyone new today?
- Did anything happen today that was hard?
- What stories did you read/listen to today?
- Did your teacher say or do anything funny?
- Were any of your friends gone today?
- What didn’t go well today?
- What is something you would change about your day?
- Did you do anything today that was too easy for you?
- What did you do today that made you think hard?
- Did you try anything new today?
- What is something you did outside?
- Did you enjoy (school subject) or (school subject) more today? Why?
- What was easier today than yesterday?
- What did you do that was creative?
How to Get the {FREE} List of After School Questions
You can download the FREE List of After School Questions by entering your name and email below. You will then receive the PDF in a separate email which you can download onto your computer and print.
Want to save this post? Hover over one of the images below and click the “Pin It” button. Then save it to your Parenting board on Pinterest!
What would you add to the list?
