Elisa "Lisa" Lipton, LMFT

09/16/2025

It was so great to attend the 2025 EMDRIA conference.

07/22/2024

Please join me and my colleagues for a high vibe workshop on Sunday, 7/28 from 1 tp 4p.m. at the Awakenings book store in Laguna Hills, Ca.

12/25/2022

It’s okay to celebrate the season and it’s also okay not to or do things in your own way:

12/25/2022

Image creditPoppy Leigh Social Media

12/25/2022

❤️❤️

12/25/2022

09/27/2022

We know that a school day is filled with hours of engaging activities and active learning. But when the average kid gets home from school, and their parents ask what they did all day and how their day went, the conversation often goes something like this:

Parent: What’d you do at school today?
Kid: Nothing.

or

Parent: How was school today?
Kid: It was good.

We get these responses because kids just want to relax or they may have forgotten everything they have done. They might have something on their mind that they are looking forward to doing when they get home and just want to be in the moment.

As parents, we are curious creatures and want to know how it all went, but sometimes all of our questions can feel like an interrogation! 😄

Timing is also important. I like to talk during after-school snack and try to keep it casual. Once the time is right, be sure to ask open-ended questions to get a better response out of your child and don't be afraid to sit in silence for a little while.

Often times, parents ask question after question and that can feel overwhelming to kids. It’s ok to sit in silence a little bit. It can help if parents can lead by example by sharing stories and moments from their own day with their child to warm up the conversation. Or even phrasing a question into a comment. “I wonder what your new teacher is like…” or “I wonder what all the kids enjoy playing at recess..” - great ways to get the conversation rolling.

And instead of a closed-ended question like, “How was your day?” try some of open-ended questions on this infographic. (My 9 year-old helped me come up with a few. 😉)

💜 Please share to give parents ideas to help open up dialogue with their kiddos!