Start a Conversation with Your Kids

Try using these prompts to start a conversation with youth of all ages. Use them as a game, as part of your family meals, or even while driving in the car.

Download an English or Spanish set of starter topics.

  • What is your greatest talent or ability?
  • Is there anything about you that inspires other people in any way?
  • What are you most proud of this past year? In your lifetime?
  • What are the things you like about yourself?
  • What are the three most interesting things about you?

  • What is one thing you could have done better today?
  • Tell me about a time when you felt challenged to do the “right” thing?
  • What is the most important value you look for in someone else?
  • Tell me about a time when you made a good choice when no one was looking?
  • Can you list the most important rules in our family? What are they?

  • How have you helped someone recently? How has someone helped you recently?
  • What is the nicest thing a friend has ever done for you?
  • What words do you wish someone would say to you when you’re having a tough time?
  • When do you feel sad? How does your sadness affect how you treat others?

  • What happened today that you did not expect? How did you handle it?
  • What was something you learned today?
  • What do you do to cope with your feelings?
  • What are things you’re working on improving? How are you doing that?
  • If you could go back in time and give your younger self advice, what would you tell yourself?

  • What is one thing you are grateful for today?
  • What has been the happiest day of your life so far and why?
  • When do you feel happiest?
  • What is your idea of an ideal day?
  • What was the high point and low point of your day?

  • If you could be one person from history, who would that be? Why?
  • If you were to write a book, what would it be about?
  • If you could be a famous person for a week, who would you be and why?
  • If you could have any superpower, which would you choose?
  • If you had one wish (and you can’t wish for more wishes), what would you wish for and why?
  • If you could pick your own name, what would it be?
  • If you could see your future, where would you be in ten years?
  • What fictional character are you most like and why?
  • If you could travel back in time, where would you go?
  • If you could change one thing about school, what would it be?
  • If your best friend could be anyone from a book you have read, who would it be?

  • What is a thought or feeling you had today?
  • What’s something you wish adults would understand better?
  • What is your favorite thing about our relationship?
  • If you had to choose only three words to describe me as a parent, what would you say?
  • If you could go forward in time and give advice to your your older self, what would that advice be?
  • What is your least favorite thing about our relationship?
  • Is there something I can do better as your parent that I am not doing now?
  • What are the most important things I have taught you?
  • What three words do you think best describe our family?

  • If you had the attention of the world for just 10 seconds, what would you say?
  • What one thing that you did in the past would you like to change if you could have a do-over?
  • What things are you not great at yet that you want some day to be good at?

  • Do you have adults at school you could go to if you need support? Who and why?
  • Do you feel like you could talk with me about anything at all?

  • What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
  • What three words would you use to describe yourself?
  • What is something you want to learn how to do and why?
  • Do you feel better working alone or in a team? What are times that you have to work in a team?
  • What are you most looking forward to?
  • What is your favorite childhood memory?
  • If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
  • What would you like to become better at?
  • What makes you feel better when you're upset?
  • What is your biggest goal this year?
  • If we had a special day together, what would you want to do?
  • What’s the best thing about our family?
  • Did anything you learned today surprise you?
  • If you could solve any problem in the world, what would it be and why?
  • If you and I could switch places for a day, what are the first things you would do?
  • What is your earliest memory?
  • What do you like to do for fun?
  • What do you worry about?
  • What do you like most about school? What do you like least about school?

Thank you to the Character Effect for their partnership in creating this content. For additional resources, please visit www.thecharactereffect.org.

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