Conversations starters: Engage your kids

Dad’s,

Many of us have trouble starting conversations with people we love.
This got me thinking about what resources www.BetterDad.com would have on the subject and reminded me that conversation between husbands and wives, parents and kids, grandkids and grandparents can be hard I have been married 32 years; do we really have anything left to talk about? I sure hope so, but many nights I am at a loss to what to talk about. Same with my kids, particularly when they hit the age when the clam up and do not give anything but one word answers.

So in the spirit of providing resources here are some ideas for starting conversations:

Conversations to have with your kids (Taken from Keith Zafren’s book “How To Be A Great Dad, No Matter What Kind Of Father You Had”):

1. Fun, get-to-know-them questions:
a. What has been your favorite book? Movie?
b. What’s your most prized possession?
c. What’s one of your big dreams?
d. What is your favorite Meal? Restaurant?
e. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? And Why?
f. If a fire started in our house, what three things would you take out?
g. Who are your top three heroes?
h. When did you have the most fun?
i. If you had $100 to spend, what would you buy?
j. What would you do if you won $1 million?

2. Some deeper questions that will help you get to know what your child is thinking – who he or she is becoming:
a. What makes you really angry?
b. What embarrasses you?
c. When did you cry the hardest?
d. If you could do three things to change the world, what would they be?
e. What are five things you are really thankful for?
f. What is your greatest fear?
g. What causes you the most stress?
h. Who is your closest friend? Why?
i. What three things bug you most about your friends?
j. What makes you the happiest, certified and trained?
k. What makes you the saddest?
l. What was your greatest achievement this last year?
m. What was your greatest disappointment last year?

3. Helpful, but risky questions to help you be a better parent:
a. What do you like to do best with me?
b. What do Mom and Dad do to hold you back?
c. What do you like most about the way Mom is raising you?
d. What do you like most about the way Dad is raising you?
e. If you could change three things about the way Mom and dad parent you, what would they be? Why?
f. What do you want most from me?