Conversation Starters For Kids

Dining Table Set For Dinner, by blmurchIn the past few years, several studies have shown that children who have a regular dinner hour with their family have a better success rate at school and in other aspects of their lives, including choosing not to use drugs or alcohol. This makes learning to talk with your children an essential component of the dinner hour.

There are other opportunities to have meaningful conversations with your children as well — when the family is taking a long car trip or spending a Saturday night at home, for instance.

Starting conversations on your own can be hard. Sometimes you're just too tired to think of something. With the games, cards, and books I've found below, you can start working on that ready-made supply of conversation starters for kids. And the potential to get closer to your child. It's a good feeling knowing you're building a relationship with your child or grandchild where he or she trusts you so much that there's nothing you can't discuss.

Don't judge.

Judgment begins in the form of "Now, why did you go and do that, David?" or "Well, I am going to have to punish you for telling your friend that she is stupid, Anna."

Judgment ends in the form of no relationship with the child.

Being judged teaches children to shut down; therefore, parents have to be selective between what they will let go until a learning opportunity arises and what they will need to correct right away.