One of the most common questions moms have after a school day is 'so how's school?' Answers are either 'fine,' 'good' or 'just the same.' Honestly, you should expect the same answers because you are asking the asking the same question everyday. Quite obviously, it is not a conversation starter and does not encourage your kids to share what happened at school. Why don't you try stirring things up by asking the right questions? Below are some of them.

Questions to ask your kids after school

1. What is the best/worst thing that happened to you today?
2. Did you and your classmates play today?
3. Did you share something or anything with your seatmate?
4. Where did you go today that's not your classroom?
5. Did you learn something cool/weird/outrageous/silly today? What is it?
6. Did you help someone or someone helped you today? Why did he or she have to help you?
7. What made you laugh today? Or How did you make you someone smile today?
8. Do you like your seatmate? Why or why not?
9. Were you bored today? Why? What may help you ease your boredom while at school?
10. Where you and your classmates play the most today?
11. If you are given time to speak in front of the class, what would you say?
12. What fun things did you do today? Did you catch a classmate doing something funny? What did she/he do?
13. Did you like your lunch? Why or why not?
14. Can you tell me three things that you do with your hand today?
15. If you can be a teacher for one day, what will you teach your students?
16. Did you play games? or Did you learn any new games at school?
17. Who made you smile today? Why? How?
18. How would you rate your day from the scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest? Why?
19. What lessons made you more interested in learning about?
20. Are you proud of yourself today? Why or why not?
21. Was everyone kind to you? Why or why not? Have you been kind to your classmate?
22. Did you or anyone cry in the classroom? Why?
23. How creative are you today?
24. Did you say 'thank you' to anyone? Why?
25. Can you tell me one thing that you learned today and you did not know about yesterday?
26. If you could change one thing today, what would it be?
27. Can you teach me something I don't know?
28. Did you feel prepared for doing tasks that your teacher asked you to do?
29. Did you feel loved today? By who? What made you think so?
30. Are you excited to go to school tomorrow/on Monday? Why? What excites you more specifically?

These questions are more engaging than a simple 'so how's school today?' leading to interesting conversations with your kids. The most important thing about this is you would know how your kids are thinking and feeling throughout the day at least. There could be issues or concerns that they are not otherwise ready to discuss with you. But since you opened up and showed enthusiasm in knowing how his or her day went, your child would be more than willing to share with you now. Who knows, this will be your and your children's own unique way of after-school bonding.