One of my favorite things to do with my children is “play” Hi-LO.  It’s a simple activity for anytime but our HI-LOs usually happen at the evening dinner table.

Here’s how you play HI-LO:  Ask everyone at the table, in turn, to answer two questions:  What was the best part of your day?  What was the worst part of your day?  In other words, “What was the high point?  and what was the low point?  Sometimes it’s hard, but each person is forced to choose just one answer for each question.

Not only have those two questions helped me learn about my children, my husband, and myself, some of them have become the journaling on scrapbook pages.  First day of school?  HI-LO answers are perfect for journaling.  End of vacation?  The HI-LO answers you journal may help you plan the next family trip.  HI-LO is great for everyday but also great for special occasions like Christmas and birthdays as well.

Some cautions:  Don’t take the “LOs” too personally.  My children have said “This excellent dinner” for their HIs as often as they’ve used “dinner” for their LO.    Also, be careful not to evaluate their answers.  If they receive anything other than your thankfulness for sharing their hearts or encouragement if they’re feeling blue, they may stop sharing the LOs. You want them to be honest;  dealing with reality is an important life skill.  HI-LO helps my children become observers in their own lives, to be aware of their emotions, and to remember to be grateful.

Every now and then, there is a night where not one of us can think of a “LO.”  Those are special nights that I cherish just a little bit extra and for which I whisper an extra prayer of thanks.