Easy Questions to Help Kids With Conversation
One of the biggest challenges busy families face is finding quality time to connect with one another. With work, school, extracurriculars, screen time, friends, and more all competing for time, parents can be left feeling unconnected as their kids quickly grow into themselves. Many parents worry their kids are growing too quickly and that they're not creating lifelong memories. If that's how you've been feeling, you're far from alone.
More: The Ultimate List of Would You Rather Questions for Kids
Sometimes when you're just trying to connect with your child it's easy for them to shut down, oftentimes hidden behind a screen. But having the right tools and questions to ask can help facilitate conversation.
We've created this list of personal and creative questions to help parents get to know their kids better at any age!
Pin it to save these for later or download our free printable:60+ Get to Know You Questions Printable and get talking! This fun and educational game is sure to spark conversation between you and your kiddo on a long car ride or before bedtime.
Dr. Fran Walfish, Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist, author, The Self-Aware Parent, regular expert child psychologist on The Doctors, CBS TV, and co-star on WE TV weighs in on the importance of talking with children. She says,
"During the early childhood years younger kids are more forthcoming about everything including who played with them and who didn't, what they are thinking and feeling, and their friends/social life. Older kids (7-12) withdraw and go underground to deal with internal conflicts on their own. Younger children (0-6) do the opposite and are more open because their defenses have not yet taken shape and gelled. They are more likely to show you and tell you what they are thinking, wondering, and struggling with."
"By the time children hit 7-12 years of age, Dr. Fran says, "It takes more work to chip away at what they are thinking and feeling. In other words, don't ask your child questions that require a yes, no, or one-word answer. Say things like, 'Tell me about what you did, and who you played with at recess in school today?' and encourage them to tell you more."
We love the idea of daily conversation starters that can easily be built into your routine. Whether it's on the way to after-school activities, at the dinner table, or really anywhere! Conversation starters are a great way to make a slice of quality time to engage with your kids. One open ended question can spark a conversation that isn't forced or quickly shut down.
Open-ended questions give children time to think and be creative. However, you don't want to overwhelm them by peppering them with questions non-stop. That's why we think the idea of a daily conversation starter is so great. Even if you only have small slices of time, you can really make it count by engaging your kids in meaningful ways.
If you want to get your kids talking, these 60+ questions will help them open up.
Questions To Ask Toddlers and Preschoolers
What is Your Favorite...?
- What is your favorite book?
- What is your favorite song?
- What is your favorite color?
If You Could…?
- If you could be any animal, what would you be?
- If you could open a store, what would you sell?
- If you could grow anything in the garden, what would it be?
Just for Fun Questions
- What is the best smell?
- What would you do if you made the rules at home?
- If you got to choose what's for dinner, what would you pick?
Questions to Stimulate Imagination
- If your favorite toy could talk, what would it say?
- What's the silliest thing you can think of?
- Would you rather be as small as a mouse or as big as an elephant?
- When you become a grown-up, what's the first thing you want to do?
Personal Questions
- What is something you are really good at?
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
- What makes you feel nervous?
If You Could…?
- If you could be a superhero, what would your powers be?
- If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
- If you could be any age, what would it be?
Just for Fun Questions
- If you had $50 what would you spend it on?
- What is the hardest part about going to school?
- What is the most annoying sound?
- What is the funniest thing that has happened to you?
Questions to Stimulate Imagination
- If you could be a character from any book, who would you be?
- Who is the best superhero and why?
- If you could get rid of one thing in the world, what would it be?
Personal Questions
- What is something you want to learn how to do?
- What was the best part of your day?
- When was the last time you made someone smile?
Questions to Ask Elementary Kids
What is your Favorite?
- What is your favorite joke?
- What is your favorite day of the week?
- What is your favorite thing to do with friends?
- What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
If you could…?
- If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
- If you could make up a new holiday, what would it be?
- If you could be any Disney character, who would you be?
Just for Fun Questions
- What's the worst smell in the world?
- What three things would you grab if the house was on fire?
- What job would you never want to have?
Questions to Stimulate Imagination
- If you could invent something to make your life easier, what would you create?
- If you could do anything, what would be the perfect day?
- Why do we wear shoes?
- What qualities make a best friend?
Personal Questions
- What does it mean to be a good friend?
- What motivates you?
- What's one thing you couldn't live without?
Questions to Ask Pre-Teens and Teens
What is your Favorite?
- What is your favorite family tradition?
- What is your favorite time of year?
- Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
If You Could…?
- If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
- If you could go back and do something differently, what would it be?
- If you could be a famous person for a week, who would you be?
Just for Fun Questions
- Do you think it's more important to be rich or kind?
- If you were a teacher what rules would you make?
- What's the best gift you've ever received?
- If you had a million dollars what would you spend it on?
Questions to Stimulate Imagination
- What do you like dreaming about?
- If you wrote a book what would it be about?
- If you could design a house, what would it look like?
- An Amazon box shows up, what do you hope is inside?
Personal Questions
- What is your favorite thing about yourself?
- What made you laugh today?
- What makes you feel loved?
- What do you worry about the most?
- If your friend asked you to keep a secret that makes you uncomfortable, what would you do?
The Key to Getting to Know More About Your Kids
When it comes to getting your kids to open up and talk, asking open-ended questions can be great conversation starters. Don't get too caught up on the question since there are no right questions or wrong ones. You just want to engage young children and pull older children out of their one word answers.
Think of your child's interests, their favorite subjects, TV shows, video games, and formulate some great questions. Make sure to answer the questions yourself to model the give and take of quality conversation. This may quickly become a favorite part of everyone's day, and you will feel a closer connection to your child while counteracting their desire to withdraw inwards.
You may learn some wonderful things about each other and strengthen your family bond. The best part is this can be a totally unstructured activity, perfect for car rides, waits at the doctors office, or dinner table conversation.
PRO TIP: These are perfect for a long car trip to keep kids distracted and entertained. Download the Get to Know You Questions printable to have these fun child-friendly questions on hand at all times!
Source: https://www.familyeducation.com/family-life/questions-to-ask-your-kids-to-get-them-talking