What to Say When Your Child Has a Bad Day: How to Listen So Your Child Will Talk

When your child walks in the door after school and says they had a bad day, do you know what to say next? 

If you’ve ever felt unsure, anxious, or like you fumbled the moment, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not failing. In this episode of Educated Parent, I’m sharing positive ways to talk to your child that help them feel heard, supported, and connected—even when emotions are running high.

I’m Dr. Leah Clionsky, licensed clinical psychologist, parenting expert, and real-life mom of two little kids. In this first full episode, I’ll introduce you to the mission of this podcast, how my professional training and real-world parenting collide, and why I believe every parent deserves parenting help that’s rooted in science—not social media opinions.

You’ll learn how to respond with calm and clarity when your child tells you about a hard day, using positive ways to talk to your child that work even if their story is messy, emotional, or confusing. I’ll walk you through exactly how to listen so your child will talk, why your timing matters more than your “fix,” and how to build the kind of relationship where your child wants to keep opening up.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why kids don’t always make sense when they’re upset—and how to help a child with big emotions
• The exact 4-step strategy I use for how to listen so your child will talk
• Why some “helpful” reactions can shut kids down (and what to do instead)
• How to use positive ways to talk to your child to build emotional safety and trust
• Simple, expert-backed parenting tips for parents to handle everyday challenges with confidence

Hit play to learn how to help a child with big emotions, discover parenting tips for parents that actually work, and finally feel confident in how to listen so your child will talk.

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