A day at nursery can be quite tiring and many children return in a sleepy or grumpy mood. They’re not very communicative at that point, but it’s helpful for parents to understand what is going on in those little heads, as well as how to encourage chatter.
First, keep in mind that your child is likely tired. There’s a good reason so many children fall apart after a long day at school or daycare. They’ve been behaving all day long and trying to follow the rules. They’re worn down, just like most of us feel after a day at work. Give your child a little time to process their day and settle down if that’s what they want to do.
Quiet Time Ideas
For the child who needs a bit of a rest after coming home from nursery, here are a few helpful ideas:
- Set a snack up in a blanket tent. This gives some isolation and quiet, but it’s still fun. Your child won’t feel punished and can contemplate their day for a bit.
- Relax with some music. Turn on some music and let everyone do their thing for a few minutes.
- Do some colouring. A simple activity book or even a blank sheet of paper and some markers can give a creative child the time they need to deal with their day.
- The next step, once you’ve given your child some downtime is to get them talking.
How to Encourage Communication with Your Kids
Once your child has had a little time to rest and feels ready to talk, you can encourage sharing by following some of these tips.
Know the Schedule
If you know your child has art on Mondays, be sure to ask about their class or what they made. Specific questions are far better than vague ones like “how was your day?” You’ll find that this also gives your child more confidence, as they know they’re important enough for you to pay attention to their schedule.
Ask About People They’ve Mentioned
Was Ralph out sick last week? Ask how he was today. If someone had a birthday coming up, ask if the class did anything. Your child will probably be more than happy to fill you in on the latest news.
Share Your Day
When you talk to your child about what you did during the day, they learn from your example. Share with them and they’ll be more likely to share with you, too. You may even offer some insight into feelings by mentioning that you felt sad when your co-worker criticised your work or annoyed when there was no more cake left in the cafeteria. Then share how you overcame those feelings.
Little Acorns Day Nursery
Want to give your child something wonderful to talk about? Enrol them at Little Acorns Day Nursery and we’ll make sure their days are full of stimulation and learning.