If you’re a parent, you know the struggle: the moment you ask, “How was school today?” your child replies with the classic, monosyllabic answer: “Fine.” Just fine. Like they’ve locked all the juicy stories, jokes, and dramas behind an invisible vault, and your key got lost in the laundry.
Fear not. With a little strategy, humour, and creativity, you can get your kids to spill the stories, complaints, and laughs of their day — without turning it into an interrogation.
Why Kids Give One-Word Answers
- Routine fatigue: They’ve already answered 50 questions from teachers, friends, and themselves.
- Privacy: Some things are private, even if it’s just arguing over who got the last orange.
- Testing patience: Short answers are a fun way to see if parents can survive boredom.
- The key is to make talking fun, not a chore, so your child actually wants to share.
Strategies That Work
1. Ask Funny, Specific Questions
Instead of “How was school?” try: “If your day were a sandwich, what would be the main filling?”
“Who made you laugh today?” or “What’s the weirdest thing that happened in class?” gets better results than generic questions.
2. Play Detective
Pretend you’re Sherlock Holmes. “I notice your backpack is suspiciously heavy… tell me what mysteries are hiding in there.”
Kids love being part of a game, and they often reveal more than they would with normal questions.
3. Create a Daily Highlight Reel
Ask them to name one high, one low, and one silly moment of the day.
It structures answers, makes them reflective, and you get a full story in minutes.
“Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.” – Anonymous
4. Use Humour as a Hook
Make up ridiculous consequences for “fine.”
“If you say ‘fine,’ I will assume the principal gave you a lama for lunch, and you had to teach it math.”
Kids can’t resist correcting you — and boom, the story unfolds.
5. Car Rides Are Prime Story Time
On short drives, make the car a “no electronics, all stories” zone.
Long drives? Turn it into a game: “Tell me one sentence every km.” By the end, you’ll have a full day’s account — and maybe even a few laughs.
6. Lead with Your Own Stories
Share something funny or weird that happened to you.
Kids love reacting to your antics and are more likely to open up in return.
Why It Matters
Getting your child to talk isn’t just about curiosity — it builds:
- Emotional expression: They practice naming feelings, not just events.
- Social skills: Storytelling helps them structure thoughts and communicate clearly.
- Parent-child connection: Laughing together, even at silly moments, strengthens bonds.
- Problem-solving: Sometimes the “fine” hides a problem they didn’t know how to explain.
Getting your kids to talk about their day doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth. With humour, games, and creative questions, you can turn one-word answers into full-blown stories, complete with jokes, drama, and maybe even a few mysteries.
So next time they say “fine,” don’t panic — turn it into a game, get silly, and watch the stories pour out. And remember: every story, no matter how small, is a peek into their world — and a chance to laugh together.
