"Why does my kid say 'I don't know' whenever I ask about their day?"
Being an Acton parent is hard.
Just like our sons and daughters, we are traveling an adventurous road in a new unknown land. Contrast that with traditional school that hasn't changed much in the last two hundred years, and it can feel downright disconcerting at times.
Luckily, there are some great resources you can tap into that will help guide your journey.
One of our favorite "Obi Won/Dumbledore" guides who is always willing to share her wisdom in a honest (sometimes even vulnerable way) is Laura Sandefer. Yes, that same Laura who wrote Courage To Grow.
Did you know she also writes a blog for Acton parents?
So here's one tip that might get your youngest sharing... start by telling stories about your own day. And don't give them the glossed over "Superman/woman" version of the story. Share the time you made a mistake, felt angry or embarrassed.
Your vulnerability will do wonders for your child to understand and embrace their own growth mindet. Is there anything more important for us to learn as we prepare for a future world that doesn't fully exist yet?
I particularly like how Laura keeps it real for herself and her readers by incorporating the voices and perspectives of other Acton parents (like "Blake's" mom):
With this type of learning approach, and less school-led communications coming home, I’ve struggled a bit. I learned I had to experiment with my question asking skills of Blake.
"Blake's mom" goes on to share some of the questions and strategies that have worked well for her. We also like this graphic that shares some of the Growth Mindset questions that are more open ended.