Jeff Smith is editorial manager of Awana. He and his wife have two daughters, ages 9 and 10, in the Awana T&T club. Jeff has written three curriculum books for Awana.
?How was your day??
?Good.?
?What did you do??
?Nothin?.?
?Who did you play with??
?Hannah.?
?Did you have fun??
?Yes.?
?Do anything else??
?No.?
?All-righty.?
That was a recent?exchange with my older daughter. Sound familiar? After a busy school year, dinner?discussions can screech to a halt in the summer. This is especially true as the older our kids get, the less they want to share.
Because of this, I searched online for conversation starters that would:
1. Interest everyone
2. Promote spiritual growth in my children
3. Strengthen family relationships
4. Develop my children?s communication and critical-thinking skills
5. Force my kids to say more than two words at a time!
The result? Below is a list of 25 mealtime conversation starters from Suite 101, Conversation Starters, Fatherhood and Great Schools. I hope they?ll spice up your family?s table talk?? and mine.
1. What is your favorite thing we do together as a family? Why?
2. Describe your perfect day. Where would you be, who would you be with, and what would you be doing?
3. What was the nicest thing you did for someone else today? What was the nicest thing that someone else did for you today?
4. If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
5. What are the qualities that make a good friend (good family discussion)?
6. How did you use our word of the day? (One dad introduces a ?word of the day? each dinner. He defines it and asks his kids to use it the next day in a conversation. The kids share at the next family dinner how they used the word, then get a new word.)
7. Which of Jesus? miracles in the Bible is your favorite? Why?
8. Does our family seem too busy? What should we change to be less so?
9. What can our family pray for you this week?
10. What were the highs and lows of your day today?
11. What?s the funniest thing you heard, saw or happened to you this week?
12. What have you learned this week from reading God?s Word?
13. What?s one thing you learned today?
14. What three blessings are you most grateful for? Why did you pick those three?
15. Have you heard people talk about God?s grace? What do you think that means? Can you think of any Bible stories that help us understand what God?s grace is like?
16. What was the best thing that happened to you today? The worst?
17. As a family, let?s think of 10 ways someone can show kindness to others at home, work, church or school.
18. In 60 seconds, tell us as much about your day as you can.
19. If you could be any Bible person for a day, who would it be? Why?
20. Describe your perfect day, from the time you wake up until you go to bed.
21. What was your favorite family vacation? What did you like about it?
22. What are some ways we can serve others as a family this summer?
23. It?s time to play 20 questions. (Select a theme the day before: state capitals, animals, etc.)
24. How many total Bible verses can we recite as a family in five minutes?
25. What?s your favorite _____ (animal, book, movie, fruit, dessert, Bible verse, song, etc.) and why?
How do you add sizzle to your family?s mealtime conversations?
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