HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD?

As a parent, it’s easy to think that we know our kids. We spend countless hours with them, thinking we know everything, but then they hit the next stage of life and we think, how are they even the same person?

So how do we bridge the gaps as they grow and change?

By simply asking questions. Questions are incredibly powerful in a child’s life. Questions help invite them into our lives and dig into the depths of what our kids really think, instead of just telling them what to think. Through asking questions, instead of just speaking words to them, we can use what they think and help impart wisdom into their already forming ideas.

When we ask our kids questions, it shows to them that we…

Genuinely care about them and what they think.
Intentionally want to spend time with them, instead of just sitting in the same room as them.
Teaches them how to converse by answering questions, looking you in the eye, and in the end, allowing you to show them how to have a meaningful conversation, instead of over a screen.
Help them discover what they need and how we can step into their world and walk alongside them in those needs.
Build a sense of belonging within the home; a closeness that each child deeply needs.

Learning about their dreams, fears, worries, memorable moments, and even imaginative ideas, helps us discover the unique person that God has created them to be. Even though they all grow up in the same home, their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs all differ. Questions help build bridges, are check-ins to see if what we as parents are doing is sticking, and again, build a connectedness that will hopefully last a lifetime.

THIS IS WHY I’VE CREATED THE “DISCOVERING ME” JOURNAL.

Discovering Me asks 55 questions about your child’s imagination, emotions, relationships, self-confidence, and spirituality. Within each section, there are questions that will help you delve deeper into what your child is truly thinking and I guarantee you, you will walk away with a better understanding of who your child is.

I personally have asked my child many of these questions (we continue to work through it) and some of her answers make me laugh, make my heart swell, make my heart break, some making my heart proud, all while helping me realize I have so much more to learn about her and this is the perfect place to start.

Here are some examples of questions this journal asks…

I don’t know about you, but I get “stuck” on what to ask. I don’t know how to get deeper. And that is why I’ve created this for our family and decided to share it with you as well!

If you’re wondering how to use this, there isn’t one right way! Depending on the age and stage of the child, more or less can be written. You may even use this simply as suggestions of questions to ask. Maybe you want to write the date next to each answer and ask them each year. Maybe you plan to just hand this to them and ask them to fill it out and you’ll talk about their answers later. There isn’t a right or wrong way to use this, but it is simply a tool to help you discover more about your child.

This is a DOWNLOADABLE and PRINTABLE document ONLY and is created in BLACK AND WHITE. So, no color printer is needed! I wanted to create something that was simple and easy to use. Of course you could print it onto colored paper or print the cover on colored paper, but wanted to make it as easy as possible for you.