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.

  • 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?

Click here for a list of questions in Spanish

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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