An important thing to know is if they NEED someone to talk to. You do not necessarily need to ask this, but it is good to ask when something seems off with them. You want them to always know that coming home and speaking their heart and their own mind is always valued in their home. It will be crucial that your emotions not be on display immediately if they are opening up, so they can be assured their home is “safe” for them to express themselves. This takes practice and LOTS of miscommunication before you might ever find that perfect “zone” where they are secure in speaking to you in confidence.
The important thing is to NOT GIVE UP. There will be some successes and some failures along the way, but truly, consistency is the key. And on the days when there is no conversation, don’t let it alarm you—some days are just like that. However, keep asking, keep reaching out, and keep opening the door to showing them how to converse on all levels.