32 Engaging Questions to Ask Your Kids After School

Inside: 25 engaging questions to ask your kids after school that spark exciting conversations and help you connect deeply. Move beyond the usual ‘How was your day?’ with fun, thoughtful prompts that encourage kids to share their unique daily experiences.

As a parent, you’ve probably asked your child “How was your day?” countless times. But more often than not, we get a one-word reply: “Fine.” 

Mostly in my case, my kid used to say, “I am home mom. Don’t remind me about school”

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? 

We wish to connect with our children, understand their experiences, and be a part of their lives. But, their answers won’t allow that.

The problem lies not with our kids but with our approach.

Read on to know the list of some engaging questions to ask your kids after school and help them to involve in a conversation. You can also download the questions as PDF file and keep it handy whenever you need.

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Why “How was your day?” Questions Won’t Work?

Traditional questions like “How was your day?” are often too broad and vague. They don’t encourage specific or detailed responses. 

Our kids, especially younger ones, may not know how to articulate their experiences, leading to generic answers.

Instead of relying on these generic questions, let’s dive deeper and ask questions that spark conversation and genuine connection.

7 Simple Questions to Ask Your Kids After School

Before getting into our set of super engaging questions to ask a child after school, here are some simple daily after-school questions you can ask your kid.

1. Was there something today that you wish you could have done twice?
   This gives you a glimpse of what they enjoyed the most – maybe it was a fun activity, a great conversation, or a relaxing break.
2. If your day were a game level, would it be “easy,” “medium,” or “hard” today?
   This helps them rate their day without labeling it as “good” or “bad,” letting you understand their challenges and victories.
3. What was something kind that you saw or did today?
   Encouraging them to reflect on kindness can highlight the positivity in their day and may bring up stories you wouldn’t hear otherwise.
4. Was there something today that made you feel really smart or proud?
   This helps them focus on moments when they felt accomplished, which can be especially valuable after a tough day.
5. If you could pick one moment to “freeze” from today, what would it be?
   This question encourages them to reflect on their best moment of the day, whether it was an exciting activity, a funny joke, or a moment of pride.
6. What’s one thing that was unusual or unexpected about your day?
   Kids love surprises, and this question opens the door for them to share anything out of the ordinary that happened.
7. Was there a rule today that you thought was fair or unfair? Why?
   This allows them to share their perspective on how they interact with rules, routines, and authority in school, giving you insight into their values and sense of fairness.

25 Engaging Questions to Ask Your Kids After School

Here are 25 questions to help you connect with your child after school.

1. What was the most unexpected or surprising thing that happened at school today?
2. Who made you laugh the hardest today, and what did they do?
3. Was there a part of today that felt like an adventure? What happened?
4. If you could give a special award for “Most Interesting Moment,” what would you give it to?
5. What was the most colorful thing you saw today?
6. Did anyone say something today that you can’t stop thinking about?
7. If your day were a comic book, what would the title of today’s issue be?
8. Was there a moment when you felt like you could do anything? What were you doing?
9. What was the most mysterious thing that happened today?
10. Did you help solve a problem today? What was it, and how did you help?
11. Who seemed like they were having a great day today? How could you tell?
12. If you could add a funny sound effect to something that happened today, what would it be and why?
13. What was the best smell you encountered today?
14. Was there something you saw today that felt like it came straight out of a story?
15. Did you hear a new joke or funny story from anyone today?
16. Was there a time when you felt really curious about something today?
17. What made today different from yesterday?
18. If you had to teach me something you learned today, what would it be?
19. Did you hear any funny or surprising sounds today? What were they?
20. Was there a part of the day that made you feel proud of yourself?
21. What was the most challenging thing you figured out today?
22. If you could keep any one thing from today forever, what would it be?
23. Was there a rule or instruction today that everyone had a hard time following?
24. Who was the most interesting person you talked to today, and what did you talk about?
25. What was something you did today that you think you’ll still remember next week?

These open-ended questions encourage your child to think critically, express themselves, and share their experiences. 

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So, the next time you pick up your child from school, put away your phone, and truly connect with them. 

Ask thoughtful questions, listen actively, and show genuine interest in their lives. You’ll be amazed at the depth of the conversations you can have.