The 5-Minute Interview You'll Be Glad You Did in 10 Years - 10 Questions to Ask Your Kid at the Start of Every School Year
- Brooke Baugh
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
There is so much I love about going back to school. I always loved the excitement of meeting new teachers and seeing old school friends again. There was just something about getting to pick out a new planner and pens that made me giddy. But it always comes faster than you expect. One minute you're sunburned and full of popsicles, and the next you're standing in Target deciding which notebook and pencils to buy.
I've learned that change is one of the only constants in life. Life is always shifting, but I also think there's something good to look forward to in every new season. Still, you don't want to forget those blissful summer memories, especially with your young kids. As a little girl, summer was always my favorite. Running through sprinklers with my cousins, jumping on the trampoline, biking to a friend's house, family trips to the cabin, night games… the list goes on.
So even though change is constant and seasons are always turning, I think taking a few minutes to reflect and interview your kids before they start their school year isn't just a way to preserve memories. It shows them how much you care, and it's a fun little activity, too.
I'm not a mom myself, but I have nieces, nephews, and little cousins who change so quickly. What they were excited about or nervous about last year has already shifted. Taking just five minutes to sit down with your kids or grandkids for this little interview is a small way to catch that version of them before they change again.
So, I put together a list of questions to ask. Grab a notebook, your phone's voice memo app, or just talk it through over breakfast. However you capture it, you'll be grateful in years to come that you took a little time to record these small moments of their childhood.
The Questions
(also included on the attached printable PDF)
What was the best part of your summer?
What is your favorite memory with our family from this summer?
What are you most excited about for this school year?
What are you most nervous about?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What is your favorite thing about yourself right now?
Who are your best friends?
If you could have any superpower at school, what would it be?
What is something you are really good at?
What is your favorite subject right now?
Make It a Tradition
What makes these questions even more special is turning them into a tradition. Kids get excited to reflect and feel like their answers matter. Ask them each August or September, and after a few years you'll have a little archive of who your kid was at each age. Just imagine how fun it will be to compare what they wanted to be at six versus sixteen.
A few tips for keeping it simple:
Keep a running note on your phone and add a new entry each year.
Record it as a quick video instead of writing it down — it can be fun to hear your child's actual voice answering.
Print out the attached PDF and fill in the blanks with your child.
A Few Tips for Recording Better Videos
If you're documenting a family story on your phone, don't overthink it! Here are a few simple tips for creating a good quality video:
Find good lighting: Whenever possible, have your subject face a window or another natural light source. Avoid having a bright window directly behind them, which can leave their face dark.
Keep your phone steady: Prop your phone up on a tripod, stack of books, or another stable surface rather than holding it. The less shaky the footage, the easier it is to watch!
Don't forget about audio: Good audio is one of the most important parts of a good video. If you're planning to record back-to-school interviews for years to come, investing in a microphone can make a huge difference. You don't have to spend a fortune either. Here are two links to both an affordable option and a higher-end option that are great choices for recording on your phone.
Find a quiet space: Turn off the TV, move away from loud appliances, and close windows if there's a lot of outside noise. Even a beautiful video can be difficult to enjoy if you can barely hear the person speaking.
Start the same way every year: If you’re looking to create an annual video tradition, start each recording with the same few questions. Have everyone say their name, age, grade, and the date before jumping into the rest of the video. As you stitch the videos together in future years, this will help give you important context when looking back at the videos!
And most importantly, just start recording. Don't worry about getting everything perfect. Some of the best family videos are the ones where someone laughs, gets emotional, loses their train of thought, or tells a story completely differently than you expected. Those little imperfections are part of what makes a memory feel real.
However you do it, we hope this becomes a highlight for you and your kids. It's a simple, fun way to capture and hold onto the small moments you don't want to forget.
What did your kid say this year? We'd love to hear their answers! Drop your favorite one in the comments, or tag us on Instagram @planted.media with your own back-to-school interview.
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