Homework and after-school time
Ask how she would structure the hours between school pickup and dinner: when homework happens, how she checks it is done, and what she does if a child resists sitting down to it. A candidate who has actually managed this stage will mention something concrete, like setting a fixed homework slot before screen time or checking a school diary with the child.
A vague answer treats homework as an afterthought, something like 'I will make sure homework is done' with nothing about how. Push a little further by asking what she would do if a child lied about finishing homework, since the follow-up question is often where the real experience shows.
- How do you get a reluctant child to start homework?
- What do you do if you cannot answer a homework question yourself?
- How much screen time would you allow after school, and how do you enforce it?
- What would you do if a child said homework was already done but it was not?
Discipline without your say
Ask directly what she would do if a school-age child argued back, refused an instruction, or hit a sibling while you were not in the room. A substantive answer names a specific, non-physical approach, such as a calm warning followed by a consequence you have already agreed on, and shows she understands the difference between guiding a child and disciplining one on her own authority.
A vague answer defaults to 'I would scold them' or 'I would tell them not to' with no sense of escalation or of checking back with you afterward. Ask how she would handle a disagreement with your own parenting rules, since her answer tells you whether she will follow your house rules or substitute her own.
- What would you do if the child refused to listen to you?
- How would you handle two children fighting with each other?
- Would you tell me afterward, or handle it and move on?
- What is off limits for you when it comes to discipline?
Safety during everyday chores
School-age children are often around the kitchen, the ironing board or cleaning supplies while chores happen, so ask how she keeps a child safe nearby without stopping the work entirely. A strong answer mentions specific habits, like keeping a child at a set distance from the stove or moving cleaning chemicals out of reach before starting.
A vague answer says only 'I am careful' without naming a single habit. Ask what she would do if a child wandered into the kitchen while she was cooking, or picked up something she had left out, since her answer shows whether safety is a routine she has already built or something she is inventing on the spot.
- How do you keep a child safe while you're cooking?
- Where do you keep cleaning products when a child is around?
- What would you do if a child got hurt on a minor scrape while under your watch?