Does your child grunt when you ask how their day was?

After a day of having to stay focused, learn new things, negotiate the playground social scene, it is very common when parents ask "How was your day?" or "What did you do today?", you are greeted with a grunt, a shrug or "Nothing".

I invite you to try an experiment...

Ask the question and if the reply is as above, acknowledge the feeling your child is communicating, with something like "Sounds like / looks like it was a tiring / boring / exhausting day". Then, if no more is said, leave it until later in the afternoon, perhaps whilst throwing a ball to each other, or at dinner where you can change your focus to:

• What was something that made you smile or laugh today?

• How was someone kind to you today? How were you kind?

• What was something you achieved or completed today?

• What was the hardest thing you did in class today? What was the easiest?

• What do you wish you could have done less of / more of today?

You might even choose for everyone to answer the question.

What are all the possible words and feelings a shrug or a grunt might be communicating?