Love and Logic--Getting kids to talk about their day.
by Annie Smith
September 16, 2009
When you get home from a long day at work, do you want to be pummeled with questions about your day? Most of us don't and our kids don't either. Love and Logic shares a different technique you can use when you get home.
Getting Kids to
Talk About Their Day
Conversation between a parent and child:
"Hi, Jamie. How was your day?"
"Okay."
"How was school?"
"Fine."
"What did you do today at school?"
"Nothing."
"Well, you must have done something."
"Just regular stuff."
"How was your lunch?"
"I don't know. Okay, I guess."
Does this sound familiar? Would you like your kids to be just a
little more talkative?
Experiment with this:
Dr. Charles Fay calls this the "30 Minute Rule." It's based upon
the fact that kids watch our every move, copying us in their
subconscious drive to learn how to be big.
For the next 2 months, avoid the temptations to ask questions of
your kids during the first 30 minutes after they come home.
Instead, talk with excitement or enthusiasm about your own day
instead.
Examples:
"It's good to see you. Guess what I got to do today… And not only
that, I learned…and I heard…and I couldn't wait to tell you about
it. I hope you had a great day."
One of these days you'll get a surprise; it will sound like, "But
Mom. I've got to tell you what happened today."
By the way, this works great with spouses.
Thanks for reading,
Jim Fay
