Conversation Starters for Kids

What is something you did today that you could not do a year ago?

Then ask: What changed, you or the thing?

Who did you sit with at lunch today?

Then ask: What did you talk about that you would not bring up with a grown-up?

What made you laugh today?

Then ask: Would it be funny to someone who was not there? Try it on us.

What was the hardest thing you had to do today?

Then ask: What would have made it easier?

Did anyone do something kind today, to you or to someone else?

Then ask: Did anyone notice, and does it matter if nobody did?

What is one thing you learned today that you think I do not know?

Then ask: How would you check whether it is true?

What part of today would you do over if you could?

Then ask: What would you do differently the second time?

What question did you ask today?

Then ask: Did the answer make sense to you, or do you want to ask it again here?

If today were a chapter in a book, what would its title be?

Then ask: What would the next chapter be called?

What did you get better at this week?

Then ask: How can you tell you got better?

What is something you are looking forward to tomorrow?

Then ask: What could get in the way, and what would you do then?

If you could add one rule to our dinner table, what would it be?

Then ask: Who would have the hardest time following it?

If you could invite any three people to dinner, who would come?

Then ask: What would you ask each one?

Which food on this table would win a race, and how?

Then ask: What would the slowest one do to keep up?

If we had to eat dinner somewhere else in the house for a month, where should it be?

Then ask: What problem would we run into by the second week?

What would you cook if you made dinner for all of us?

Then ask: What help would you need, and what would you do alone?

If you could trade places with anyone at this table for a day, who would it be?

Then ask: What do you think would surprise you about their day?

What is a food you used to hate and now like?

Then ask: What changed your mind?

If a dog joined us for dinner and could talk, what would it complain about?

Then ask: Would it have a point?

What would happen at a dinner where nobody was allowed to talk?

Then ask: How would you tell us about your day without words?

If you had to name tonight's dinner the way a fancy restaurant would, what would you call it?

Then ask: Does a name change how food tastes?

What is a tradition you wish our family had?

Then ask: What would it take to start it this week?

What did you play at recess, and who decided?

Then ask: Was it fair how it got decided?

Was there a moment today when you were confused?

Then ask: What did you do about it, and did it work?

Who was a good friend today?

Then ask: What did they do that made you think of them?

What did your teacher say today that stuck with you?

Then ask: Do you agree with it?

Was anything unfair today?

Then ask: What would a fair version have looked like?

What was the most boring part of the day?

Then ask: Was it boring for everyone, or just for you? How come?

Did you help anyone today, or did anyone help you?

Then ask: How did you know help was wanted?

What is something you wanted to say today but did not?

Then ask: What stopped you, and would you say it now?

If you could teach tomorrow's class one thing, what would it be?

Then ask: How would you explain it to someone who has never heard of it?

What did you see today that nobody else noticed?

Then ask: How come you noticed it?

What are you still thinking about from today?

Then ask: What would settle it for you?

What is the best thing you can see out the window right now?

Then ask: What do you think its story is?

If you were in charge of this trip, what would you change?

Then ask: What would the rest of us say about that?

What song should be the theme song of our family?

Then ask: Which part of the song is which person?

Where do you think the people in the next car are going?

Then ask: What clues are you going on?

If the road ahead were closed, how would we figure out another way?

Then ask: What if we had no phone?

What would you name this car, and what is its personality?

Then ask: What would it say about how we treat it?

What is a place we drive past all the time that you have always wondered about?

Then ask: What do you guess is inside?

If you could put up one road sign for every driver to read, what would it say?

Then ask: Would people do what it says?

What is the farthest from home you have ever been?

Then ask: What was different there, and what was just the same?

What makes a long drive feel short?

Then ask: Is time really going faster, or does it just feel that way?

If you had to explain a car to a kid from 200 years ago, where would you start?

Then ask: What would they ask you next?

What were you proud of today?

Then ask: Did anyone else see it, and do you wish they had?

Was there a time today when you felt brave?

Then ask: What were you nervous about just before?

What is something you are wondering about right now?

Then ask: Where could we look for the answer tomorrow?

Who do you wish you had spent more time with today?

Then ask: What would you have done together?

What is one thing you would like to be better at by your next birthday?

Then ask: What is the smallest first step?

What does your room sound like when the house is quiet?

Then ask: Which of those sounds do you like?

If you could dream about anything tonight, what would you pick?

Then ask: What would happen first?

Is there anything from today you want to say sorry for, or wish someone had said sorry to you for?

Then ask: What would make it right?

What made you feel calm today?

Then ask: Could you do that on purpose the next time you are upset?

What is one nice thing you could do for someone tomorrow?

Then ask: How will they know you did it on purpose?

What should I know about your day that I did not ask about?

Then ask: What would have been a better question to ask you?

What was your favorite thing to eat as a kid, and who made it?

Then ask: Can you still make it, and can we try?

What rule did you have as a kid that kids do not have now?

Then ask: Was it a good rule?

What got you in trouble when you were little?

Then ask: What did you learn from it, if anything?

Who was your best friend when you were ten?

Then ask: What did the two of you do that you still remember?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Then ask: What changed your plan, or what made it happen?

What was hard for you at school?

Then ask: How did you get through it?

What is something you believed as a kid that turned out not to be true?

Then ask: How did you find out?

What is the best advice anybody ever gave you?

Then ask: Did you follow it right away?

What was our family like before I was born?

Then ask: What changed when I showed up?

What do you know how to do that I should learn from you?

Then ask: How long did it take you to get good at it?

What is something you still wonder about?

Then ask: How would you go about finding out?