My kiddos are getting older – my oldest is eight and my youngest is five. They are all in school now and we’ve hit the stage where when I ask about their day, they respond with, “I don’t know.” Truthfully, the “I don’t know” drives me CRAZY. I want to know all about their day – who they played with, what they learned, what special lunch they had, but their little brains have been working so hard all day that they don’t want to discuss anything when they get home.
I’ve given up on trying to chat as soon as they get home. But this doesn’t mean I’ve given up on getting information from them! I’ve found that dinner is the best time to talk. Here are some tips on how to encourage conversations at the dinner table:
Play “Favorite and Bummer”
Recently, we’ve started playing different games at the dinner table. We play a game called “Favorite and Bummer.” I ask them what their favorite thing about their day was and then I ask them about a bummer moment. Sometimes it’s something silly and sometimes it takes us into deep conversations, letting us chat about feelings and help each other out.
Play “Would You Rather”
Another one of our favorite games to play is “Would You Rather.” We’ve been known to get silly at the dinner table with this game.
Here is a list of recently asked questions in our house:
- “Would you rather be a unicorn or a dinosaur?”
- “Would you rather swim in a pool of Jell-O or Marshmallow Fluff?”
- “Would you rather eat a bug or sleep next to a snake?”
- “Would you rather only be able to swim or only be able to skip?”
This game can get loud and crazy, but it gives everyone a chance to come up with a fun idea and is a great way to get the whole family talking!
Listen to an Audiobook
We used to have the news playing for background noise during dinner. It was the only way I could catch up on what was going on in the world. Now, it’s just too heavy for the kids to listen to, so we’ve started listening to audiobooks during dinner! We’re working through the Magic Tree House series right now. We’ll listen to a couple of chapters and then pause for the night to talk about what everyone heard, make predictions, and answer any questions they might have! Not only does this encourage conversation, but it’s a great way to encourage new readers to get excited about reading.
Discuss Upcoming Events
Dinner time is also a great time to talk about upcoming activities the family is going to be involved in. It allows the grown-ups to set expectations, explain any important information, and get the kids excited about an event by giving them plenty of time to prepare for the activity. They can process what’s coming by knowing far enough in advance what to expect and asking questions if needed!
Dinner time doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes we’re eating on the go, or sometimes there isn’t a ton of conversation. But when we’re able to sit down and have these fun conversations it gives us a chance to connect with our kids, even if it is just for 15 minutes. We’re all able to take a breath, share about our day, and be silly together!
If you’d like more tips on how to encourage conversation during dinner time, email navigation@familyfutures.net to work with a Family Support Navigator. You’ve got this, parents!
