One thing is for sure. Kids change. They change quickly or slowly, in one direction or another from day to day. It’s common for parents not to notice these changes as they happen. To us, our children and grandchildren just ‘are.’ There comes a time, however, when the toddlers and preschoolers who live in our heads surprise us. ‘All of a sudden,’ they seem grown-up. When did that happen? Well, when we weren’t looking, that’s when.
It’s a great idea to step in once in a while. Taking the time to keep up with a kid’s changing emotional maturity, intellectual growth, and new outlooks will reap great rewards. You’ll get to know your changing child better while heading off misconceptions or ways of thinking that might need gentle correcting.
Try a question and answer session one lazy weekend afternoon. The questions shouldn’t necessarily be easy or comfortable. They should challenge and provoke thoughtful answers. Rather than put your child on the spot, invite them to ask their own questions about you. If you take turns, the conversation will quickly become productive. Look for these openings to explore with your younger loved one.
- Would you rather be a baby or a grown-up?
- If you could choose a new first name, what would it be?
- Have you had a teacher whom you would choose to teach you every class from now on?
- If you could live in any country in the world, which would it be?
- What is your favorite color this year? Has it changed?
- Do you think you’d like to be a grandparent? Why?
- What’s the best part of being your age?
- Did you see someone acting unkindly today? Explain.
- Do boys or girls have life easier?
- Would you instead grow up to be a cook, a doctor, or a zookeeper?
- How tall would you like to be as an adult?
- Who is your favorite singer or band? Why?
- If you could, what would you re-name your family members?
- When you grow up, do you want to use a bicycle, a car, a cab, or a bus every day?
- What do you think is the world’s biggest problem today? What do you plan to do to help?
- What’s the grossest food you can think of?
- How many days each month should the weather be rainy?
- If you could live at any time in history, when would it be?
- Are you afraid of the dentist? Why?
- What job is the most important in the world? Would you want to do that job someday?
- If you were granted a wish for anything, what would you wish for? No fair asking for more wishes!
- How do you make a cake?
- What is your favorite subject in school? What is your least favorite?
- If you could have an extra limb, would you choose another arm or another leg?
- Who is your favorite American president?
- Have you ever seen a ghost?
- Would you instead join the army, the navy, or the air force?
- If you could be a dog, what kind would you be? Which dog would you never choose to be?
- How many best friends should a kid have? Who is yours?
- If you could have only one of the following in your bedroom, would you choose a TV, radio, a cell phone, a gaming device, or a full bookshelf?
- If you could only keep one toy, which would it be?
- What do you wish your family knew about you?
- How many days each week are you sad?
- Describe your perfect hide-out.
- At what age should kids be allowed to drive cars?
- What is your favorite chore and your least favorite chore?
- How many books could you read in a year?
- Do you wash dishes? Could you if you had to?
- Is it easier for you to write a joke, a short story, or make up a lie?
- Do you like short books or long ones?
- What is your favorite TV show? Why?
- What can we do to become better parents or grandparents?
- Which was the worst day of your life? The best?
- Which was your favorite vacation? Would you like to go there again?
- What new language do you want to learn? Why?
- What is your motto?
- What new skills would you like to learn?
- Would you instead go camping, to an expensive hotel, or stay in a mountain hut?
- If you discovered a new planet, what name would you give it?
- What was the last life mistake you made? What could you have done differently?
