Family Dinner Table Conversation Starters for Kids

Conversations at dinner time are important to a family, especially with the hustle in most families. There's a lot to do in one day and dinner time seems to be the only time when people can slow down and enjoy the company of their family. This time is crucial and it is important to make the best of it with your children. Conversation starters can be a real help especially when you have other things on your mind or you have a quiet child or guest.

Draw conversation from experience. If you already know that your child is reading a specific book in school, ask how they are enjoying the chapter about a certain portion of the plot or how they feel about a certain character. Engaging in conversation this way is more likely to produce a positive response than the repetitively asking, "How was school today," every night. You may also avoid a few whines using this method.

If you're sitting across from a niece that you haven't seen since the last holiday gathering, there is no need to worry. You can always count on a recent spelling test with younger kids as a safety question to jump start a conversation. Asking about their favorite hobby always perks kids up, especially if you don't know the specifics-they will be happy to tell you about them.

If you know these kids at all, you will know what type of children's entertainment they are interested in. Whether it be Noggin TV shows, Marvel characters, Nickelodeon "stars", or music sensations, there's always some kind of news to be told. Asking a child three to five years old about Spider-Man at the dinner table may elicit a lengthy explanation about his webs or friends and enemies. Asking a seven year old who that boy, Troy, is on her High School Musical T-shirt should start a nice little conversation about cute boys and the movie.

Another great way to engage a child in conversation is to pick up on cues that they're listening in your own conversation. Remember that schools try to tackle current events in their lesson plans as much as possible. If a child at the table suddenly becomes interested in what you're talking about, bring the conversation to their level so they can be included. Many times adults get upset because children are interrupting "adult conversations", but at the dinner table, the conversations should be free for anyone to join. If your child had to read an article for school and/or wrote a paragraph about it, encourage them to talk about it with the family. Maybe even you will be able to see something from a different point of view!

If you're still tapped out of ideas, try using logging onto the TV Land Family Table website. They have a list of fun conversation starters for you to print to help jump start your dinner table conversations. Simple suggestions using everyone's favorite seasons and items that are always in the fridge are sure to get everyone talking and maybe even laughing.

In the rushing around of everyday life, we take what time we have with our families for granted. Dinner time happens to be one of those rare times when families are all together and able to communicate. By drumming up conversation at the dinner table with conversation starters, you're opening up the lines of communication and allowing them to share their feelings at a relaxed time of the day.