It’s the joy of every parent to have a great relationship with their kids. So parents want to create that atmosphere where their children aren’t afraid to discuss anything with them, from their deepest anxieties to their biggest wins.
You probably long for that kind of open parent-child communication, one where there’s no judgment. But where do you start?
Conversation starters are a great way to engage your kids while spending quality time with them. Conversation starters aren’t yes-no questions. They’re open-ended questions. And one open-ended question can generate a series of follow-up questions that not only allow you to know your child better but to share their world with them.
But there are even more reasons why conversation starters are great for parents and kids:
- To develop critical thinking in your child (open-ended questions allow the responder to think deep and form sentences rather than a simple yes or no)
- Fostering emotional growth and empathy
- Engaging kids in heart-to-heart discussions
- To encourage gratitude
- To bond on a deeper level.
Conversation starters aren’t the length and breadth of open communication, but they’re a crucial piece of the puzzle. They are even more important as your child grows into their teens when they start grudgingly answering your “how was school” questions as if they’re a bore.
Below are some meaningful conversation starters that will help you get to the heart of your child. These questions are designed to get to know your child on an even deeper level and to discuss things you might not think about otherwise — things about resilience, critical thinking, and emotions, among others.
But before even asking any question, remember that there’s no such thing as a wrong answer.
Chances are your kid will give an answer that’s far from your expectations. Rather than despise or disregard their unexpected response, ask follow-up questions to discover why they said so.
So, without further ado, here are great conversation starters to spark communication with your kids.
Conversation Starters to Know About Their Day
- What was the best thing about today?
- What did you enjoy learning today? What did you like about it?
- What made you laugh today?
- How is (so and so)?
- What was the worst thing about today? How can I help?
- What are you excited about for tomorrow?
Conversation starters to Connect
- What’s with your best friend that makes you like him/her so much?
- If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be, and why?
- What is your favourite story genre?
- If you could time travel, where would you go?
- If you could be any storybook character, who would it be?
- What’s your favourite time of the year?
Conversation Starters to Encourage Gratitude and Positivity
- What made you happiest today?
- What’s the best thing you did this week?
- What’s the best thing someone did for you recently?
- What made you feel good today?
- What’s that one thing you could do without but are happy you have?
- What are you grateful for right now?
Conversation Starters to Foster a Resilient Mindset
- What are the times you needed help this week?
- When things get hard, what do you say to yourself? How do you keep going on?
- What’s that one thing you’re always proud of about yourself?
- What positive thoughts did you notice recently?
- How do you hope to make tomorrow an incredible day?
Conversation Starters to Help with Emotional Growth
- How do you show love to yourself?
- What makes you feel loved?
- What makes you feel nervous?
- How do you cope with worries and anxieties?
- What kind of feelings do you find hard to let go of, and what kind goes on their own quickly?
- What would you do if your friend asked you to keep a secret that gets you uncomfortable?
- In what acts do you show your love to people?
- What’s that thing you’re really good at?
Conversation Starters Develop Critical Thinking and Creativity
- If you could solve one problem in the world, what would it be?
- What belief do you have that you think someone else might disagree with?
- If you could turn this table into anything, what would it be, and why?
- If you could travel back in time, what would you prevent/change?
- If you could go to the future, what would you like to see?
- When you become a grown-up, what’s the first thing you want to do?
Start a lovely conversation with your child today!
Conversation starters aren’t exhaustive. You can form yours as the day goes by, as you walk with your child, drive them to school, or while watching TV together.
Get to know your child, question them, and listen when they answer. And when they ask you, go ahead and answer, too. It will likely encourage them to open up more.
Need some Kids Life Coaching for your child? Speak to our Kids Life Coach for a FREE consultation.