These conversation starters are great for help during dinner to keep the conversation going with your kiddos! My hubby and I often fall into the trap of talking to each other about our day and failing to purposefully engage the kids during meal times. I love this! Our jar of 99 Conversation Questions is not an “original idea” one of my daughter’s good friends was gifted a jar of “Family Preserves” for Christmas one year. The majority of the questions listed come from her collection. Thanks Melody for letting me borrow your jar, copy your questions and add a couple dozen more. Thanks also to the
QM facebook participants who helped add to the the list!
.
What you’ll need to make your own Jar of Talking Fun:
.
.
Some of our kids favorite conversations are:
- What is the yuckiest thing you ever smelled?
- When was the last time you were silly? What did you do that was funny?
- What is your favorite thing that _________ does for or with you?
- Where do you like to go in the car?
- What type of super-hero would you want to be?
…and there are dozens more!
.
First, we printed up our questions. The link should open a massive list of
99 different conversation starters. We painted the backs of our pages with
shaving cream finger paint, then cut them into long slips. Emily, a friend, inspired us to swirl our slips or fold them into springs. Anything to make them fun to open. Then stuff them into the jar and – viola! You have a simple gift that keeps giving! Hours of family chatter!
.
Other Posts you might be interested in:
Thank You Notes for the kids to create – love how participatory these are!
101 Gift Ideas that your kids can make for others.
A collection of
homemade Christmas ornaments.
I love this topic, my family loves this so much we burn through our questions really quickly. I have to keep coming up with more and more. I just shared a free printable with 108 questions on my blog. I also included a link to your post. Thanks for sharing!
http://momhascooties.blogspot.com/2013/01/family-dinner-conversation-starters.html#
What a great find. We had a ‘talking tables’ box (dinner conversations starters that we let our 6 year old be in charge of) but we have finished those now. We can use them again but we would need to leave it for quite a while until the kids have really forgotten what the questions were. Thanks goodness I found your site 🙂 We have really been missing doing these type of questions at dinner time. Thank you so much for your generosity is sharing your ideas via a free printable. Our family will really appreciate this.
Hi Rachel,
Would it be possible to get your permission to use questions from your “99 Conversation Starters” to make a modified handout for a Family Wellness program we are doing here in South Dakota? I would like to make a handout called “Fun Talks for Dinner and Walks” to promote parent communication, family physical activity, dinner time, etc. and i didn’t want to recreate the wheel if questions were available online. I would like to use some (not all) of your questions and develop a few of my own to tailor to our program. I can give you credit, such as “Adapted from ’99 Conversation Starters,’ Copyright, 2010, by QuirkyMomma.com.” Please let me know if this is possible and contact me if you have any questions/concerns. Thanks!
What a great idea….. a easy (frugal =))meaningful gift to friends and family. I have had so many compliments from families we gave these to. Each family has said that their kiddos never let them forget to choose a question from the jar at dinner each night. Many, many thanks!
Brigit
http://amomspassion.blogspot.com/2010/12/family-preserveshomemade-christmas.html
What an awesome idea! Our family time at the dinner table is so very important over here and this will add a nice twist. Thanks so much! I too will share and may even make some for holiday gifts =)
I love this idea. Thank you for sharing it will be a great idea for one of my parent night trainings. They always love to do make and take project.
Awesome! I just added this as one of our features in tomorrow’s ABC Show and Tell post.
This is such a great idea. I think the girls in my Bible Class will have fun making these as a take home gift to share with their parents.
Great idea! We’ll definitely be doing this.
Hi! I really liked this idea and though I don ´t tend to run out of conversation subjects at dinner I MUST admit I tend to speak more than my kids, trying to get some “information” of their school day as if I were pulling a soft string that not always is willing to come to me. Husband and I appreciate this idea full of love and creativity. And I ´ll give it a try with my games and creativity groups of young children too, so they can take their own “conversation jars” to their homes. Thank you Activity Mom for posting a link to this beautiful idea!