A hard day at school can follow a child home in ways that aren't always obvious — quietness, irritability, or resistance to talking about their day are common reactions, not defiance.
Rather than opening with "how was school?", try a lower-pressure entry point: "what was one good thing and one annoying thing today?" Specific, small questions are often easier to answer than open-ended ones.
Give your child a chance to do something they're already good at before bed — a favourite game, drawing, building something. Ending the day on a note of competence helps balance out a day that felt full of struggle.
Avoid comparing siblings or classmates, even gently. "Your sister found this easy" — even said kindly — tends to stick with a child longer than intended.
Remind your child, in specific terms, of something they've got better at over time: "remember when reading that page took forever? Look how much faster you are now." Concrete evidence of progress builds resilience more than general encouragement alone.