70 Questions To Ask Your Child Instead of “How Was School?”

You pick your child up from school, ask, “How was your day?” and get a one-word answer: “Fine.” Or maybe, “Good.” Probably not what you were hoping for, right? Most kids would rather dive into snacks than recap their long day.

But as parents, we want more than a quick reply. We want to know our child felt safe, treated others kindly, and was treated with kindness, too. To move beyond one-word answers, try asking about a specific part of their day.

70 Questions To Ask Your Child After School

Browse the questions by topic and choose one that fits what your child feels like sharing.

Questions About Moments From Their Day

1. What was your favorite part of the school day?

2. What was your least favorite part of the school day?

3. What made you feel happy today?

4. What or who made you laugh today?

5. What surprised you today?

6. What’s something you did today that you didn’t enjoy?

7. If you could change one thing about today, what would it be?

8. What is one thing you want me to know about your school day?

9. Who did you see at school today that you usually don’t see?

10. What did you create at school today?

Questions About Friends, Recess, and Kindness

11. Who did you sit by at lunch?

12. Who did you play with at recess?

13. What do you like the most about this friend?

14. Was anyone sitting or playing by themselves today? Who?

15. If they wanted company, how could you invite them to join you?

16. Did you help anyone today? If so, who and how did you help them?

17. Did anyone help you today? If so, who and how did they help you?

18. How did a classmate or friend show they cared about you today?

19. How did you show a classmate or friend that you cared about them today?

20. What did you do at recess today?

21. Who do you appreciate today?

22. What classmates did you work with today?

23. Who are your best friends?

24. Who is your nicest friend?

25. Who is your funniest friend?

26. What qualities do you like your friends to have?

27. What did you do to make someone’s day better?

28. Is there someone in your class you’d like to get to know better?

29. Who would you sit next to in class if you could choose? Why?

30. What did you talk about with your friends today?

Questions About Learning and Classwork

31. When did you feel excited about what you were learning?

32. When did you feel confused about what you were learning?

33. What’s one thing you learned today that you didn’t know yesterday?

34. What is something you had difficulty with today?

35. What might make that easier next time?

36. Did you learn anything about yourself today?

37. What are you most interested in learning about?

38. What are you least interested in learning about?

39. What do you do when you have a question during class?

40. Do you feel comfortable participating in class?

41. How do you participate in class?

42. Do you like working on your own or working in a small group?

43. What books did you read at school today?

44. Did your teacher read any books to your class today? Tell me about them.

45. What is one mistake that you made today? What did you learn from that mistake?

46. Do you think you learned something I don’t know today?

Questions About Feelings and Support

47. What made you feel sad today?

48. Did anything make you feel worried or frustrated today?

49. What did you do that made you feel proud today?

50. Did you feel proud of anyone else today?

51. Are you worried about anything?

52. Is there anything you need my support with today?

53. What adults at school do you feel the safest with?

54. Have you ever felt unsafe at school? What happened?

Questions About Teachers, Rules, and the Classroom

55. What made your teacher smile today?

56. What does your teacher do that you appreciate?

57. What does your teacher do to help you feel safe and understood?

58. What rules are you expected to follow in your classroom?

59. What rules are you expected to follow in the hallways?

60. What rules are you expected to follow in the cafeteria?

61. What happens if the rules are not followed?

62. Are there any rules that you think are unfair?

63. Who is your favorite teacher, and what do you like about them?

64. Where is your favorite place in the classroom?

Questions About Tomorrow and What They’d Change

65. How would school be different if I came with you for a day?

66. How is this year different than last year?

67. If you were a teacher, what would you do differently?

68. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

69. Is there anything you’re dreading about tomorrow?

70. Is there a question you wish I’d ask about your day?

These questions can lead to deeper conversations, helping you learn more about your child’s thoughts and feelings. As you listen, avoid interrupting, pay attention to what excites them, and build on those topics.

These questions don’t have to be asked right after school, either. You might find better moments at dinner, during bedtime routines, or while driving together.

In the end, you know your child best. Use these ideas as a starting point, and let your questions reflect their unique interests and personality.