hi MorningStar! i've recently found two practical ways to work on getting my little clam (DD5) to open up. i get her started on something quiet like colouring, and then start asking a range of questions - keeping the conversation quite light in the beginning but gently steering it toward deeper stuff. it's interesting - having an occupation like colouring seems to allow her to be slightly distanced from the conversation if/when she hits difficult emotions.
the other thing that works is to engage her on open-ended questions while we're driving somewhere - it needs to be a decent-length trip, but i think there's something about the fact we're both facing forward that frees her up to talk more frankly. it's probably the same principle at work with the colouring - we can talk without her having to make eye contact and i think it all feels less emotionally charged.
hope this helps and good luck!
Last edited by doubtfulguest; 04/15/13 11:47 AM.
