Now that we have a new baby in our home, time with my oldest girls (ages 8 and 6) is even more difficult to find. Between constant nursing sessions and shuffling kids to and from activities, it’s been an adjustment.

To say the least.

So I asked our writers to share some of their favorite conversation starters with their kids. These are especially great after a long school day when your babies don’t want to chat.

Here are some of their favorites!

1. What made you smile today?
2. Can you tell me an example of kindness you saw/showed?
3. Was there an example of unkindness? How did you respond?
4. Does everyone have a friend at recess?
5. What was the book about that your teacher read?
6. What’s the word of the week?
7. Did anyone do anything silly to make you laugh?
8. Did anyone cry?
9. What did you do that was creative?
10. What is the most popular game at recess?
11. What was the best thing that happened today?
12. Did you help anyone today?
13. Did you tell anyone “thank you?”
14. Who did you sit with at lunch?
15. What made you laugh?
16. Did you learn something you didn’t understand?
17. Who inspired you today?
18. What was the peak and the pit?
19. What was your least favorite part of the day?
20. Was anyone in your class gone today?
21. Did you ever feel unsafe?
22. What is something you heard that surprised you?
23. What is something you saw that made you think?
24. Who did you play with today?
25. Tell me something you know today that you didn’t know yesterday.
26. What is something that challenged you?
27. How did someone fill your bucket today? Whose bucket did you fill?
28. Did you like your lunch?
29. Rate your day on a scale from 1-10.
30. Did anyone get in trouble today?
31. How were you brave today?
32. What questions did you ask at school today?
33. Tell us your top two things from the day (before you can be excused from the dinner table!).
34. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
35. What are you reading?
36. What was the hardest rule to follow today?
37. Teach me something I don’t know.
38. If you could change one thing about your day, what would it be?
39. (For older kids): Do you feel prepared for your history test?” or, “Is there anything on your mind that you’d like to talk about?” (In my opinion, the key is not only the way a question is phrased, but responding in a supportive way.)
40. Who did you share your snacks with at lunch?
41. What made your teacher smile? What made her frown?
42. What kind of person were you today?
43. What made you feel happy?
44. What made you feel proud?
45. What made you feel loved?
46. Did you learn any new words today?
47. What do you hope to do before school is out for the year?
48. If you could switch seats with anyone in class, who would it be? And why?
49. What is your least favorite part of the school building? And favorite?
50. If you switched places with your teacher tomorrow, what would you teach the class?

HUGE thanks to our writers for their awesome questions. Seriously, guys, we could have 300+ questions to ask. The key here? Ask them.

I started asking these 4 questions to my kids each night and it has made all the difference. Truly. There’s no excuse for me not being able to get these 4 questions in – no matter how busy our day may be.se 4 questions to my kids each night and it has made all the difference. Truly. There’s no excuse for me not being able to get these 4 questions in – no matter how busy our day may be.

Here’s hoping these help start conversations in your home too!

You Will Also Like: The Bedtime Hoops: 4 Important Questions to Ask Your Kids Every Night

BY LESLIE MEANS

Unconditional Love

Written by Ryan Pickett

Upon finding out that we were blessed with a daughter with Down syndrome we were told of the many things we should not expect of her.  Hopes and dreams seemed to come to a cruel halt before her life began, replaced with worry and fear.

What the experts forgot to tell us were the many wonderful things we would have, some gifts far greater than we could ever imagine.  If I knew then what I know now, those fears would have melted away, just as our perceived expectations had in the very beginning. 

I cannot speak for all parents of children of Down Syndrome, I was only blessed with one.  But I think back to those early fears and they seem so minute compared to the many gifts our daughter Kenzie has given us, none greater than the gift of Unconditional Love.  

The English language does a disservice to the world’s greatest emotion.  One word is used for such a wide range of feelings when we profess our love.  It can be said that we love a spouse or significant other but not in the same way we love our mothers and fathers.  We certainly love our children more so and differently, then we do our friends or a favorite type of food.  Some of us love springtime or our favorite sports team, but so often our love comes with conditions. Spouses divorce, mother and daughter can become estranged.  Too much of our favorite food can make us sick or it may be unseasonably cold when spring begins.  Though we cringe to admit it most of the love we experience is conditional.

When our daughter Kenzie looks me in the eyes, I know I am staring into the face of unconditional love, and I get a feeling too few people on this earth experience.  If I am having a bad day, that love remains.  If I let her down, I may not forgive myself so easily, but she does.  Others may see me as careless or difficult to be around, but she never does.  She does not judge me for what I am not, only what I am to her.  How can we ever feel defeated, when those you love most will be there no matter what?

When Kenzie makes a friend, she doesn’t care about how much money you make or what you can do for her.  To receive the greatest love of all, all you have to do is love her back.  Your physical appearance is not important to her.  She will not look at you differently if you are overweight or if you could afford to put on a few pounds.  She doesn’t judge even if everyone else does.  What she has taught me is that she isn’t lacking one bit, it is the rest of us that could stand to learn from her.

About the Author: Ryan Pickett and his wife, Tara live in Lincoln, Delaware with their children, Landon (6 years old) and Kenzie  (4 years old).  They are both special education teachers who are dedicated to education and advocacy for those Down syndrome and their families.