You wait all day to hear how it went. They walk in the door, you ask "How was your first day?" and you get one sentence back. "It was good." Maybe a shrug. And just like that, the whole day just unknown.
Here is what I have learned: kids will talk, they just need a better question than the big vague one. Ask something specific or a little silly, and suddenly the stories come pouring out. So I put together 40 of my favorite questions to get past "fine," and a few simple things that make after-school talk time something everyone looks forward to.
Feed Them First: The Secret to Better After-School Conversations
Nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to open up on an empty stomach. Kids come home starving and a little fried, and a snack buys you the goodwill to actually have a conversation.
We keep an after-school snack bin stocked and ready, and it is a favorite around here. When they can grab something the second they walk in, everyone settles faster, and that is usually when the good stories start to slip out.
Turn After-School Questions Into a Game
If it feels like twenty questions, they shut down. If it feels like a game, they lean in. That is why I love using conversation cards. Letting each kid pull a card and ask it back to you takes the pressure off and makes it fun, and the whole thing turns into something you do together instead of something you do to them.
See the conversation cards here.
Capture First Day of School Memories
The little answers are the ones you forget, and they are also the ones you would give anything to remember later. I like to jot a few down in a journal, which has become a favorite of mine. First days especially are worth saving, and it is so sweet to look back and see how much they changed from one year to the next.
Small Rewards Can Make First Day Conversations Easier
I am only half joking. Making the moment feel special helps, and a small reward goes a long way with younger kids. We keep a pack of stickers on hand, and they are a fun favorite. A sticker for sharing about their day, or just for surviving a big first day, turns the whole thing into something they are excited about.
Or, if you're wanting something else, we also love going for an ice cream date to be able to chat or even passing by 5 below!
40 First Day of School Questions That Actually Get Kids Talking
Here is the part you came for. The 40 questions! Some are silly on purpose to get them giggling, and some go a little deeper for when they are ready to open up. Pull whichever ones fit the moment.
I put all 40 on one clean printable so you can keep it right on the fridge.
Free Printable: 40 Questions to Ask After the First Day
Click it, print it, stick it on the fridge, and pull one out at dinner or bedtime. You might be surprised how much they tell you when you just ask a better question.