I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Welch’s. I received product samples to facilitate my review, and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
Generations of memories have formed at this very table, for it was my Grandma’s dinner table. I recall hand-crocheted lace cloths covered by thick clear vinyl and barely visible under the dishes heaped high with sausages and meatballs and pasta.
Now it is mine, and often heaped high with children’s spoons and toys and crafts and I hardly dare put a table cloth on because I’m forever wiping up spills.
Each night we gather as a family, which is a gift these busy days, and one I know will pass too swiftly.
Creating good conversation doesn’t happen by magic. I’ve already experienced asking my son what we did at homeschool that day, only to have him say, “Nothing.” (Which when you’re both the teacher and the parent is especially painful!).
It’s only when we reach deep and ask specific open-ended questions we can lean in and unearth those good things we suddenly discover are worth sharing.
Our son actually gave us two unique conversation starters that help us have meaningful (and humorous) discussions.
The “Copy Me!” and “Sometimes…” Conversation Starters
You know how children love to play copycat? Well, our son is no exception. We discovered he loves when we ask him to copy us. We’ll say, “Copy me!” and he’ll laugh, then mimic anything we say. So we say “Copy me!” and then hold actual conversations with each other, him laughing and copying our conversation the whole time.
That’s not a real conversation, you say? But it is! Because for once my husband and I get a word in edge-wise between his chatter, and he’s learning the pattern of proper conversation by listening and mimicking us. Plus, after he tires of copying us, he usually launches into his own actual conversation.
Another game / conversation starter we use is a storytelling one, we call “Sometimes…” One of us will start out by saying, “Sometimes…?” and pause. Maybe another person at the table will pick up by sharing a story, told as fiction, but really a true happening. And we get to hear how “Sometimes…” he plays fisherman at the children’s museum, or “Sometimes…” he read the story of the baby and his brother, “Sometimes…” we play a spontaneous guessing game.
The stories aren’t especially intricate (he’s three, after all), but they are better than hearing, “Nothing.” after asking what he did all day.
Other open ended conversation starters:
What was your favorite activity today? How will you finish up that {game, building, etc}? What do you want to do tomorrow?
Of course, not every dinner or every conversation will be at its most magical, but our habit of sharing good things from our day gives us more chances at holding onto the gifts in our life.
How do you share what’s good in your family? Do you eat dinner together?
How to “Share what’s good”
I’m not the only one that values good dinnertime conversation. Welch’s (mmm… grape jelly brings back childhood memories!) also believes in the joy of family moments around the table (or on the go!). Sharing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a glass of juice – it doesn’t have to take long for a special moment to happen. Welch’s just launched a movement called “Share what’s good™” – celebrating special moments with family and friends. You can find family fun ideas and recipes at Sharewhatsgood.com.
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I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Welch’s. I received product samples to facilitate my review, and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
We have shared many family moments and conversations at my grandmas house too. Times have changed and now we spend the holidays at my house where most of those memories now take place.
We have shared many family moments and conversations at my grandmas house too. Times have changed and now we spend the holidays at my house where most of those memories now take place.
Ha! That’s hilarious, my 4 year old does the same copy game… it crack us up! Thanks for reminding me about the contest, I need to enter.
Ha! That’s hilarious, my 4 year old does the same copy game… it crack us up! Thanks for reminding me about the contest, I need to enter.
You have met my kids. They never stop talking. Ever. Even in their sleep!!!
You have met my kids. They never stop talking. Ever. Even in their sleep!!!
He looks SO much like your husband with that facial expression! I love the “Copy me” so cute!! Our 3 year old is like that. He DOESN’T.STOP.TALKING.EVER! hahaha.
He looks SO much like your husband with that facial expression! I love the “Copy me” so cute!! Our 3 year old is like that. He DOESN’T.STOP.TALKING.EVER! hahaha.
I have a 7 year old and 3 year old who chatter away nineteen to the dozen. It’s hard to get a word in sideways so we try to take turns at the dinner table. Love the memories we’re making 🙂
I have a 7 year old and 3 year old who chatter away nineteen to the dozen. It’s hard to get a word in sideways so we try to take turns at the dinner table. Love the memories we’re making 🙂
We go around and ask how each of our days were, and it goes on from there.
We go around and ask how each of our days were, and it goes on from there.
We play a lot of games like that but we never did the actually sometimes game. I will have to teach my kids that one.
We play a lot of games like that but we never did the actually sometimes game. I will have to teach my kids that one.
We eat dinner together every night, and sometimes it really is tough to get the kids to share what’s really going on in their lives. I love the idea of conversation starters!
We eat dinner together every night, and sometimes it really is tough to get the kids to share what’s really going on in their lives. I love the idea of conversation starters!
Love the idea of conversation starters. Lately, everyone’s is quiet, as if nothing happened during their day when we talk at dinner. I’m going to try the “What was your favorite activity?” today instead of the generic, “What did you do today?”
Thanks for the info about the contest and coupon too… heading over now.
Love the idea of conversation starters. Lately, everyone’s is quiet, as if nothing happened during their day when we talk at dinner. I’m going to try the “What was your favorite activity?” today instead of the generic, “What did you do today?”
Thanks for the info about the contest and coupon too… heading over now.
With 3 teens and very crazy lives, I love that we get at least one night a week we are together for dinner. It’s so hard and I miss those times!
With 3 teens and very crazy lives, I love that we get at least one night a week we are together for dinner. It’s so hard and I miss those times!
We used to tell one good thing and one bad thing that happened during our day. Our kids thought that was hilarious because they could always say something like, “Mom wouldn’t let me watch that tv show (or whatever).” lol
We used to tell one good thing and one bad thing that happened during our day. Our kids thought that was hilarious because they could always say something like, “Mom wouldn’t let me watch that tv show (or whatever).” lol
That’s a pretty brilliant way to play the “copy me” game. I never thought about how it could be a good example of phrasing and structure in language.
That’s a pretty brilliant way to play the “copy me” game. I never thought about how it could be a good example of phrasing and structure in language.
We also tell about our day by going around the table. I hope P’Diddy doesn’t continue to my have memory because he usually needs some prompting to REMEMBER what he did that day. 🙂
We also tell about our day by going around the table. I hope P’Diddy doesn’t continue to my have memory because he usually needs some prompting to REMEMBER what he did that day. 🙂
We eat dinner together every night, and oh, the talking! We have 2.5 and 4.5 year old boys (and a 3 month old, but he’s not talking much), and they would talk and not eat a thing if we didn’t remind them. One thing we ask every night is for them to tell Papa about their day. It’s always interesting to hear the things they choose to highlight, and this helps them process and remember the day – it’s super good for developing short term memory. There is often some prompting or leading questions from me, but we’ve done it enough that they have started asking us and each other about our days, which does this mama heart good. 🙂
We eat dinner together every night, and oh, the talking! We have 2.5 and 4.5 year old boys (and a 3 month old, but he’s not talking much), and they would talk and not eat a thing if we didn’t remind them. One thing we ask every night is for them to tell Papa about their day. It’s always interesting to hear the things they choose to highlight, and this helps them process and remember the day – it’s super good for developing short term memory. There is often some prompting or leading questions from me, but we’ve done it enough that they have started asking us and each other about our days, which does this mama heart good. 🙂