Ask children what they did at school today, and sometimes you get a one-word answer: "Nothing." Not what you had in mind, is it? To encourage your child to tell you more, try asking your child specific questions such as:

• Did your teacher read you a story today?
• What did you do in school today that you especially liked?
• What do you want to remember about school today?
• What was the highlight of your day?
• What was special about that person/event/situation?
• What do you like best about your teacher/friend?
• What is the value of that trait?
• What are two or three things you are most pleased about?
• What is the most important/most fun/most interesting thing about this?
• What are you looking forward to doing tomorrow? Next week?

If these questions don’t draw your child out, try telling him or her about your day. Be a role model by opening up, and perhaps he or she will do the same for you.