10 Good Questions to Ask Your Child About Their Day at School
Tired of “How was school?” getting a one-word answer (fine)? Discover 10 meaningful questions to ask your child about their day at school — and why they matter.
PARENTS
Achiever Tandoh
9/5/20257 min read
Questions to Ask Your Child About Their Day at School
“How was school today?”
This is probably the most common question parents ask their child after school. And what’s the most common answer? A quick, unhelpful: “Fine.”
If you find this answer unsatisfying, you’re not alone. Many children find it hard to open up about their day, especially when your questions don’t make it easy for them. The truth is the question “how was school today” feels too broad or routine.
But meaningful conversations about school are essential. They don’t just help you stay present and connected — they give you feedback about your child’s academic progress, emotional well-being, and social experiences. They open a window for you into your child’s learning, friendships, worries, and successes. More importantly, they remind your child that home is a safe place where their voice matters.
At Chimhanda Tutoring, we believe that what happens outside the classroom can be just as important as what happens inside it. By asking the right questions, you can create space for your child to share their joys, struggles, and needs more openly.
In this blog post I will discuss some thoughtful questions to ask your child about their day at school. These 10 questions will help you spark richer conversations with your child and understand not just what they learned, but also how they felt.
1. What was the best part of your day?
This simply question starts the conversation on a positive note. It encourages your child to reflect on what brought them joy, whether it was solving a tricky maths problem, playing with friends, or learning something new. Over time, you’ll begin to see patterns in what excites or motivates them.
2. What was the most challenging part of your day?
Struggles are just as important as successes. School isn’t always easy, especially with demanding subjects like Maths. Asking about challenges helps your child open up about difficulties without feeling judged. Maybe they struggled to understand a concept in Cambridge Maths class, maybe they felt left out during break time, or perhaps they had a friendship issue.
Listening without rushing to “fix” everything teaches them that it’s okay to face obstacles and that you’re there to support them.
3. Did you learn something today that surprised you?
Children often encounter new ideas that spark curiosity. This question makes space for wonder and discovery. It could be a fun science fact, a new word in English, or even a shortcut in algebra. When your child shares their excitement, it deepens their love for learning and their connection with you.
4. Who did you spend time with today?
School isn’t just about academics; it’s also a social world. Asking about friendships and interactions gives you insight into your child’s relationships. Are they building strong friendships? Do they sometimes feel isolated? These answers can reveal how well your child is adjusting socially.
5. Was there a moment today that made you feel proud?
This question helps your child practice self-reflection and acknowledge small wins. Maybe they volunteered to give an answer in class, finished their homework on time, or stood up for a friend. It shifts the focus from external validation (like grades) to internal pride.
Celebrating pride in effort and courage builds intrinsic motivation. It shifts their mindset from “I need to please others” to “I can be proud of myself.” That’s a powerful lesson for both academics and life. Your child is a living person not just a learner, and their life is multidimensional. So, encourage them to share more than just academic related things.
6. Was there anything that made you feel worried or upset?
Not every day is easy. Children often carry quiet worries home with them. Maybe they’re feeling pressure about a tough exam, or they had a misunderstanding with a teacher or maybe they just feel pressure from their peers to conform to certain standards. However, they may not volunteer to share this information unless you ask gently and they feel safe opening up to you.
By asking gently about difficult moments, you show that it’s safe to share their emotions. If your child struggles with Cambridge Maths, for example, this question opens the door for them to express frustration or self-doubt. Even if it’s not something you can “solve”, just listening helps lighten their emotional load.
Note that your response is very important here as it will determine whether they will be willing to open up again in the future or not.
7. If you could change one thing about today, what would it be?
This imaginative question helps your child think critically about their experiences. It can also highlight recurring frustrations like a subject they find too hard, or a routine that doesn’t suit them. Don’t restrict their imagination, allow them to answer freely in an open conversational manner. Maybe they’d want more time on a project, fewer tests in one week, or even better weather at break!
These insights can guide how you support them at home. More importantly, it encourages your child to think about solutions, teaching them to focus on problem-solving rather than complaining.
8. Did you help someone today? Did anyone help you?
Asking about kindness encourages empathy and reflection on relationships. It also helps your child see school as more than just academics, it’s a place where cooperation and support matter. Your child might recall explaining homework to a friend or being comforted when they felt nervous before an unprepared speech.
Recognising both giving and receiving help reinforces the importance of teamwork.
9. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
Looking ahead creates a sense of anticipation and positivity. It reminds your child that school isn’t just something to “get through,” but a place full of opportunities and new experiences. Maybe tomorrow they’ll be doing their favourite subject, sports, or a class project.
Amongst many other benefits, this question gives you a sense of the things that motivate your child about school and keep them excited. It fills you with their day and gives you more follow-up questions for the next day. Like “tell me about the project you did today”.
10. Do you have any questions about what you learned today?
Children often have unspoken questions — about maths problems, science topics, or even classroom rules. Inviting them to share these questions not only helps you understand where they need extra support, whether from you, their teacher or a tutor, but also reinforces the idea that curiosity is important.
Tips for Asking These Questions
Pick the right time: Right after school might not be ideal because your child might be too tired. Try it during dinner, at bedtime, or during a relaxed activity.
Stay patient and consistent: If answers are short at first, keep asking consistently. Trust builds over time. Don’t try to ask all 10 questions every day, randomize them and ask only a few or even one each day to eliminate routine and make it feel more spontaneous and genuine.
Listen more than you speak: Avoid turning these simple conversations into mini lectures. Let the conversation flow naturally, even if you hear things you don’t like. Remember even you are not perfect, much less your child.
Celebrate honesty: Acknowledge and praise your child for sharing openly, whether the story is positive or negative. Remember its always better to be aware of the things going wrong in your child’s life than to be ignorant. Reprimanding them after every sentence will just make them shut you out and avoid opening up in future.
Final Thoughts
The questions you ask shape the conversations you have and the connections you build. Instead of settling for “Fine,” you can open the door to real conversations about your child’s day, their feelings, and their learning journey.
At Chimhanda Tutoring, we believe that success in Cambridge Maths (and any subject) is about more than just grades. It’s about confidence, curiosity, and communication. The more your child feels understood at home, the better equipped they’ll be to thrive in the classroom.
👉 Want extra support for your child’s learning? Book a free trial lesson with Chimhanda Tutoring today, and let’s build both academic skills and emotional confidence together.
You got this. We got you!
