You ask how their day was and all you get is a shrug and "fine." The more questions you pile on, the more they shut down. In this episode, Jess shares the reflective-listening skills she uses to help anyone open up, along with the specific questions, rituals, and quiet moments of connection that actually get kids talking. You'll walk away knowing why interrogation backfires and exactly what to do instead.
YOU'LL LEARN
- Why "How was your day?" almost always gets you a one-word answer
- The specific, detailed questions that get kids talking, and why they work better than open-ended ones
- How to use reflective listening, a core therapist skill, to help your child feel heard
- Why piling on more questions makes kids shut down, and can even lead to lying
- How to use connection and quiet moments, like car rides, to open the door to conversation
- How to build family rituals that make sharing feel safe and normal
Get 10% OFF all parenting courses and kids' printable activities at
Nurtured First with code ROBOTUNICORN.
Credits:
DISCLAIMER The content provided is for educational and supportive purposes only. This is not a substitute for medical or therapeutic diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed by guests are theirs. If your child is at risk of harm or you need personalized guidance, please seek a qualified professional.
#ParentingTips #GettingKidsToTalk #ConnectedParenting
What is Robot Unicorn?
Join me, Jess VanderWier, a registered psychotherapist, mom of three, and founder of Nurtured First, along with my husband Scott, as we dive deep into the stories of our friends, favourite celebrities, and influential figures.
In each episode, we skip the small talk and dive into vulnerable and honest conversations about topics like cycle breaking, trauma, race, mental health, parenting, sex, religion, postpartum, healing, and loss.
We are glad you are here.
PS: The name Robot Unicorn comes from our daughter. When we asked her what we should name the podcast, she confidently came up with this name because she loves robots, and she loves unicorns, so why not? There was something about the playfulness of the name, the confidence in her voice, and the fact that it represents that you can love two things at once that just felt right.