Keeping in Touch with your School Aged Child

Written by KT @ One Organic Mama, Contributing Writer

Are you back in the groove of school yet?  Whether you homeschool or school outside the home I think it is important to keep in touch with the hearts of your school aged children! With dinner going and cleaning to do – especially if you have more than one child in school! I find that having a healthy snack (think fresh cut fruit, veggies, and nuts) and a notebook for each child, helps me to keep my afternoon routine in check! 

Here is what we do: 

For each child in school (or anyone who wants to be involved even by scribbling!) we have a composition book.  When they walk in the door from school they go and wash up and come back to the kitchen table (where I am typically preparing dinner in some form).  On the table is a snack and a notebook for each child with a pencil ready to go!  

I (during the day) write down some questions or thoughts for each child.  They eat their snack and respond.  I find that this does a few things: 

• it calms everyone down a bit
• lets me hear about things I might not get if I am verbally asking the questions
• gives children an opportunity to share concerns with you
• lets my children practice reading and writing to reinforce important skills
• allows us to write notes back and forth to each other – which I find kiddos LOVE!! 

Some possible topics:

• favorite part of the day
• what did you do during special?
• what kind things did you do for others today?
• is there anything about school you want to share with me?

What’s your after school routine?  What questions might you ask your school aged child?