Does your child tell you anything?

[MumtoLaura]

My DD started reception two weeks ago, and she doesn't talk about school at all. If I ask her anything, like what did you have for lunch - she won't answer. I feel completely cut of from her day. Is it usual for children to tell you nothing do you think?

Oh, totally normal.

"What did you do today?"
"Nothing."
"You must have done something. Did you do PE?"
"Can't remember."
"Did you do reading?"
"Yes."
"What was it like?"
"Boring."
"Well, who did you play with?"
"Nobody."
"NOBODY?"
"Well, okay, just G. Oh, and A. And L..." etc.

It. Is. Like. Pulling. Teeth.

When asked about their day at school both my boys would say 'Nothing' 'Dunno' or 'can't remember'. To them, school work was nothing exciting and therefore not worth remembering let alone telling me about. They would recall, however,in great detail school boy pranks and who ate what at lunch. Dont worry if your child does'nt tell you much, you will find out eventually.

DD1 has just started Reception and is, thankfully, one of the chatty ones. She does, however, maintain that "I still haven't learned anything".

Her teacher warned us at induction day that it was pointless to ask "what did you do?" She suggested "who got into trouble today?" or "what was for lunch?" as opening gambits! I also find that "I wonder" is a great conversation starter (as in, "I wonder what the story was about today").

I think they take a vow of silence when they start school.

Well I have a sightly different problem.

Scenario 1
DTD1 says "we did X",
DTD2 shouts "No we did not do X, we did Y"
DTD1 crys "shes lying"
.....
.....

Scenario 2
"I did the same as DTD1"
"Well i did the same as DTD2"
"I don't want to tell you - she will"
...
...

I just don't know what to think.

I now have 2 strategies that are working reasonably well

1. Tell me 2 things you did at school today (headmaster encourages the parents of older children to ask "tell me 2 things you LEARNT at school today)
2. Tell your little sister what you have been doing today. This one works particularly well at the moment.

I asked them the other day whilst walking home with their BF & I know she sat on the carpet, went to assembly, sat back on the carpet, went to her desk and cooured a picture in yelow & blue & pink. She sat back on the carpet, put her shoes on went out to play, cam back got changed, did PE.... - a minute by minute account!!!

I get told extravagant lies at bedtime, to stave off the lights off/goodnight.
If I get anything reliable, it'll be in the 3 mins between finishing breakfast and leaving the house. As long as I don't make eyecontact/betray interest.