Interview your child at the end of the school year

It seems like only yesterday...

first day of school, 2009

At the end of my daughter's first year of kindergarten, I was ready to celebrate. I was proud of her, and I was proud of me for making it through my baby's first year of school. I was excited to have her home. 

I greeted her that last day of school with special treats, made by her brothers and sisters. I had saved some of her special artwork and papers, and I put together in a scrapbook for her. We looked through it together on the couch and talked about the year.  It was wonderful.

I have three kids coming home from their last day of school tomorrow. (Finishing kindergarten, first grade, and third grade.)

Would you like to see my scrapbooks this year?

Sigh. Those papers crammed in files are not going to get organized by tomorrow. Maybe that will be a summer project, and maybe this year, they can help me with it. I really just don't feel like sorting through all those papers right now.

I have another year-end celebration idea this year.

I will interview them.

I have not yet decided if I am going to ask them these questions on camera, or just write down their answers on paper.  Maybe both. This is not going to be a normal after school conversation. You know, the one like this:

"Hi honey, how was school?"
"It was good."

"What was your favorite thing today?"

"Everything. What's for snack?"

Do you have stimulating conversations like this at your house?

I want them to talk. 

I want to see through their eyes. I want to hear about the funniest kid in class, and what they like to do for recess when it rains. I want to know their favorite silly songs, their favorite books, their favorite thing for lunch.  Today. 

Now. 

Because these days are flying by.

The river is moving so fast.

I want to set the anchor down for just a moment, and spend time with them, right here.

Would you like to do that too?

I wrote some questions to get them talking.
I think you might like them.

Download the questions here.

About the file:

It's a Word file. Nothing fancy.

I thought you might like to modify it to fit your own family.

If you use these, I'd love to hear how it goes!

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What do you do to celebrate the end of the school year?