Ask if he has anything he'd like to talk about.

Make it clear that you're open to talking about whatever he brings up. Here are a few questions that you might try:

• "How does that make you feel?"
• "Why does that make you afraid? (upset, sad, etc.)"
• "What could you do next time?"
• "How do you think that makes your friend feel?"

Listen as she talks about her concerns.

Help her find words to describe her feelings. You may want to describe your own feelings first so she can "borrow" some of your words.

Encourage him to ask questions.

Difficult questions can come when you least expect them. If you are caught off guard, take a moment to think about how you want to respond before answering.

Be prepared to answer the same question more than once.

Repeating the same question may be how he expresses concerns.

Respect his concerns.

If he tells you that he's afraid of something, don't dismiss his fears or be critical.

Your child may express feelings through actions rather than words.

Watch for ongoing changes in behavior or routines, such as unusual clinging, overactivity, not wanting to go to school, etc.