Skip to content

How To Get Kids To Open Up

June 22, 2026 · 22 min

Show notes


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.

We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email at [email protected] or connect with us on Instagram.


Credits:

Editing by The Pod Cabin

Artwork by Wallflower Studio

Production by Nurtured First


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


Head to nurturedfirst.com/bodysafety to learn more about our Body Safety & Consent course!

All episodes of Robot Unicorn

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.