How to Get Your Child to Talk About Their Day

Hands up if you’ve ever been told “nothing” when you’ve asked your child, “What did you do today, darling?” 🙋🏼‍♀️

If so, you’re not alone - and you’re definitely not doing anything wrong. In fact, one of the most common questions parents ask is how to get your child to talk about their day without getting one-word answers.

Going to school or nursery is exhausting. They spend their whole day listening, following instructions and learning. Of course you want to know everything about it - that’s natural. But as a teacher, I can promise you they did not do “nothing” all day. They’re just tired, overwhelmed, and often absolutely ravenous. And honestly… do you share every single detail of your day? Probably not. So it’s okay if they don’t either.

You're not alone if your child isn't keen to open up about their day.

Here are some gentle, realistic strategies for how to get your child to talk about their day in their own time:

1️⃣ Greet them with a smile

Even if they’re hurling their bag at you or launching into a complaint about the car you didn’t bring, your calm greeting sets the tone.

2️⃣ Bring snacks

They’ll be starving. Their bodies and brains have been working hard since lunchtime. A full tummy goes a long way in helping them open up.

3️⃣ Remind them you understand

Try: “You’ve had a long day - I’m here to look after you.” or “When I’ve had a busy day, I like to…”

This shows empathy instead of demanding answers.

4️⃣ Tell them about your day

This is one of the simplest tricks for how to get your child to talk about their day. You model how to share the ups and downs. They get to listen without the pressure of performing - and often they’ll start offering little details of their own.

5️⃣ Ask open-ended questions

If they can respond with “yes” or “no”… they probably will.

Instead try: What was your favourite thing that happened today?

What was the hardest part?

How did you feel today?

Did you need anything today?

Make your questions open-ended so they can share as much (or as little) as they feel ready to.

6️⃣ Help them decompress

Before you try to chat, help them switch off a little.Ideas: sensory play, a walk, music, TV, or simply doing nothing for a while.

7️⃣ Keep after-school activities minimal

Especially in the run-up to Christmas, children are overstimulated and exhausted. Clear the diary where you can - it helps them regulate and reconnect.

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Hi, I’m Emma, Early Childhood Expert and founder of Everyday. My goal is simple: help parents understand their children better so every stage feels a little brighter. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the extraordinary - it’s about the everyday.

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