Ditch “What Did You Do Today?”: 10 Qs to Ask Your Child!

Tired of the one-word answer to “What did you do today?”  At Ascent, our learners are on epic journeys of discovery and collaboration. But how do we keep those rich conversations going beyond the studio walls?  We asked our Parent community and here’s the secret weapon: Questions that spark curiosity and build meaningful connections!

10 Powerful Questions to Unlock Your Child’s World From our Ascent Academy Parents:

1. “What’s the coolest thing you saw (or heard) today?” This open-ended prompt lets their imagination soar and sets the stage for exciting stories.
2. “Laughter Alert! What made you crack up today?” Tap into their emotions and connect with their world on a playful level.
3. “Lunchtime Spy Report: What was the most interesting thing someone was eating?” Hyper-specificity ignites their memory and sparks a conversation that goes beyond routine.
4. “Quest Mastermind: What was the most interesting challenge in Quest this week? Was it something factual (a topic you learned about that made you curious), something interactive (like a challenging interaction that you heroically approached) or a challenging framework that pushed you into the bounds of your challenge zone?” Show interest in their specific Ascent experience and open the door to a conversation about their learning adventures.
5. “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Who did you have the most fun working or playing with today? Who did you find encouraged you the most today? Who challenged you to be your best today?” These simple questions can lead to stories about collaboration, friendship, or even challenges they faced together.
6. “Highlight Reel: Which part of your day do you tink you were the most focused? The most playful? The best peer? Tell me more.” Focus on the positive experiences and celebrate their victories, big or small.
7. “Challenge Accepted: Did you do anything super fun or tricky today?” This lets them share achievements and interesting experiences that may not have come up otherwise.
8. “Feel-Good Friday: How did school make you feel today: accomplished or lazy, proud or ashamed of your effort?” Go beyond facts and open the door to discussions about emotions and experiences they might not readily volunteer.
9. “Bragging Rights: What are three things you absolutely rock at?” Encourage self-reflection and positive self-talk. Let them shine!
10. “Story Swap! Want to hear about my day? I can go first…” Modeling detailed storytelling can inspire them to share more about their own day and create a space for open communication.

Remember:

The key is to listen actively and let their answers guide the conversation. These questions are just a springboard –  get ready to be amazed by the incredible worlds your child explores!