Nexting is when we talk with our little one’s about what’s ahead. It’s about planning and future thinking. It helps spark joy and curiosity about what could be! It’s more about how we question and listen over what we say. When we ‘next’ with our kids we can find out what excites them, what they may be nervous about and help them design their own strategies about what to do next. .
Questions you could ask are:
Future Thinking
- What are you looking forward to in the coming weeks?
- What do you think you will happen?
- How does that make you feel?
- What are you excited about?
- What projects are you enjoying at school?
Goals
- What goals do you have?
- Wow, tell me how you're going to achieve that?
- How are you planning on achieving them?
- How else might you go about it?
- What challenges/opportunities might arise?
- How will you work through them?
- Is there anything I can help you with?
- What else might you try?
- If X was to happen, what might you try next?
Challenges
- What are you finding challenging?
- What's one challenge you're working through?
- What strengths are you using? How else could you use that strength to work through another challenge?
- How could we flip that into an opportunity?
- What else?
- Have you seen anyone resolve a problem like this before? What did they do?
- If you stepped into X shoes, how might they solve the problem? (love it when you choose fav characters from the books they are reading!!)
Maybe it’s the future thinker in me but I love nexting. We do it often when we’re walking to school together. You can really learn about how your little one thinks, what they are passionate about and things that are playing on their mind that you might be able to help them work through.
My main tips are...
- Keep it light!
- Ask questions and listen.
- Think of a question over advice.
- Help them continue to take ownership - it's their 'next' moment and the achievement should help them grow hope.
- Most importantly, acknowledge what they achieve and help them savour the moments (post to come).
Want to know more about the theory, Shane Lopez talks about nexting in his book- Making Hope Happen. .
Until next time, enjoy nexting with your little one's!
Be well, do well!
Sarah x