How to Encourage Your Child to Talk Without Bombarding Them with Questions
Do you remember when your parents would ask a million questions after you came home from somewhere? Surely, that wasn’t just me!
“How was school?”
“Who was there?”
“Did you talk to anyone?”
“What did you play at recess?”
I can relate! In fact, I’ve caught myself asking my kids the same questions. While it’s natural for parents to be curious, asking too many questions can sometimes make children feel overwhelmed or pressured to respond.
Why Too Many Questions Can Backfire
For some children, answering complex questions (like "Why?" or "How?") can be challenging, especially if they haven’t yet developed those skills. Often, adults don’t realize how many questions they’re asking, and this can make kids shut down or stop sharing altogether.
So, how can we encourage our children to open up and share their day?
Try Making Comments Instead of Asking Questions
One simple trick I use with my kids (and in therapy with children who are more reserved or may have selective mutism) is making comments instead of asking questions. This technique encourages children to talk without feeling like they’re under pressure.
Here are some examples:
Instead of asking, “Who did you play with?” try, “I saw Jack in the playground.”
Instead of asking, “How did you go?” try, “You look happy today!”
Instead of asking, “What did you play on?” try, “That swing looked fun!”
These small changes in how we engage can make a big difference. The child may feel more comfortable and willing to share. By making comments instead of asking questions, you give your child the space to share information at their own pace. This approach reduces pressure, encourages conversation, and builds trust.
About the writer:
Lauren is a speech pathologist who has over 18 years experience working with children and teenagers who present with a range of learning and communication difficulties. Lauren is passionate about helping others and loves to find simple and creative ways to make learning fun!
The blog posts featured on this site are written on behalf of Remindables and are intended for educational purposes only and to provide general information and an understanding on a particular topic. By using this blog site, you must be aware that the information shown is not to be used as a substitute for therapy advice and you should therefore seek the opinion of suitable professionals to assist you. The views expressed here are the author’s views alone and not those of their employer or others, unless clearly stated. ⠀⠀⠀