The one thing that I hear often as a teacher from parents is that their child doesn’t say too much especially about school. It is something that all parents can agree on. The conversation of “how was your day” and hearing the response “fine”. In my family, finding creative ways to get my kiddos talking started with my kids having to tell me 3 things about their day. At first, the answers typically included “ok, my 3 things are recess, lunch, and gym”. Obviously you want to dig deeper and make connections and build a stronger relationship with them but that comes honestly with practice and continued conversation. My advice has always been, don’t stop asking. Be persistent and keep asking. Slowly your child will share more and soon enough they are coming to you about everything.
Conversations so much deeper than one word answers. My kids will come in and chat about everything and anything. Its funny too because most of those conversations happen right before bed. While you may want them to go to bed, take a few minutes to listen to their heart. Sometimes speaking in the dark, especially about tough topics, makes it less embarrassing. Investing in your kids is well worth it. When driving them to various activities, ask them about where they want to travel to, who their favorite superhero is, what they find hard, tell them about how they were when they were little, or just scream sing in the car together. In this blog, I am going to share some conversation starters that will get or keep the conversation going. All activities can be beneficial as a parent, homeschooler, tutor, and teacher.
Create an environment where your kids feel comfortable and open to sharing their ideas, thoughts, fears, highlights, and funny moments with you.
How can you engage children in conversations that are purposeful and can provide opportunities for your child or students to laugh, guess, and get to know each other better while growing a strong community where respect and opinions are valued? Morning Conversation Starters are designed to ignite discussions and foster connections among your students or child. Topics or activities that get your class or child talking. These prompts can come in various forms, such as riddles, rhymes, quick-thinking topics, question of the day, fun animal facts, would you rather, and “what’s wrong with this picture” challenges, among others. They can spark a question, encourage a comment, or just bring a smile to your class or child’s face.
You can display these prompts on your Loft TV, Smartboard, or computer. They are versatile enough to be used as a whole-class activity, or you can select a leader or student of the day to respond individually, or even enjoy them at home while sitting on the couch with your child. Through these activities, your child or students will learn to communicate positively and interactively with their peers, while also practicing patience by refraining from shouting out answers.
Conversation starters teach children the essential skills of communication, which enable them to make friends, express their needs, and build strong relationships with others. Additionally, good conversational skills enhance reading, writing, and spelling abilities, playing a crucial role in a child’s social and emotional development. Interactive conversations lays the groundwork for developing communication skills and achieving success in educational settings and beyond.
At Time Matters Most we value family, kids, and the time you are able to spend together. Here are some ideas that I have used at home and in my classrooms.
Conversation skills is a must-have for kids’ growth and happiness! When kiddos master the art of conversation, they unlock the secrets to friendship, get their voices heard, and build rock-solid bonds with others. It’s all about the perfect balance of talking AND listening—because, let’s be real, knowing when to listen, it is just as key. And honestly, with anything, teaching, modelling and encouraging how to do this and giving them the opportunity to practice, creates opportunities for rich conversational talk. The best phrase to welcome deeper conversations is “Tell me about it”.
Like I said, create memories by listening to your kids and students. They have something important to say. Even if its just, “I don’t know” because some day it might be “Mom, I can’t breathe, my heart hurts so much”, “Can I change schools” “I really feel lonely!”
