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Katie Serbinski, M.S., R.D., is a registered dietitian and millennial mom, blogging about healthy recipes, child and mom nutrition, and motherhood.

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Home » Nutrition » Basics » 10 Family Mealtime Conversation Starters for Kids

10 Family Mealtime Conversation Starters for Kids

Dec 13, 2015 8 Comments

While mealtime is often the most chaotic part of our day, I wanted to share a few mealtime conversation starters that have helped to distract our toddler from throwing food at his little bro! Let me paint a picture of our family conversation at mealtime: Ted and I are the only English-speaking adults at are family table. Joey recently turned two, and although he’s non-stop chatting and communicating in Joey language, we aren’t always sure what he’s saying. Does that mean we keep him out of the mealtime conversation? NOPE! In fact I think it’s the conversation Joey hears between Mom and Dad that is helping him articulate more. Or so that’s what I keep telling myself!

Empower your children to talk more about their day with these family mealtime conversation starters.
These two don’t usually have much to say except for “more,” “yes,” and, “no.” But we are slowly working on it!

Chances are your children [or spouse] have a lot more to say at the dinner table than just answering the age-old question, “how was your day?” or, “what did you do in school today?” Not that there’s anything wrong with those, but here are a few family mealtime conversation starters that were commonly used at my dinner table growing up [and that we are starting to use with Joey—- despite the language barrier!!]. Granted your 13 year-old might think some of these are silly, but my toddler enjoys them!

Empower your children to talk more about their day with these family mealtime conversation starters.

Food Specific Mealtime Conversation Starters:

  1. The carrot on your plate is orange. Do you see anything else on your plate that is orange? [This works for any food item and color].
  2. What foods on the table are [insert shape or smell]? [Joey is just starting to remember shapes].
  3. How many [insert food item] are on your plate? If you eat one can you count how many you have left?
  4. What food do you want to eat first? Second? Or third? [I typically use “next” with Joey].
  5. Do you have a favorite food on the table you’d like to eat more of? Why? [We are still working on expressing the “why” part].

Activity Specific Mealtime Conversation Starters:

  1. Is there a book you’d like to read together after dinner?
  2. What is one thing you did today that was really fun?
  3. Was there anything that happened today that made you sad or upset? [Joey doesn’t quite get this yet unless I prompt the event].
  4. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you like to have? Why?
  5. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why? [Again, I prompt this one with my toddler].
Empower your children to talk more about their day with these family mealtime conversation starters.
I found these mealtime conversation starters on Amazon.com and while my suggestions are for toddlers, this box of questions is great for teens and older kids!

The goal of sparking a conversation at mealtime is to encourage social interaction between you and your children. While it’s easy to sit and enjoy our meal in peace [which I often want after a long day], I remind myself some of my fondest family memories as a child were at the dinner table. And my hope is the boys feel the same—- even though I’m sure there will come a day when they say, “Mom, can you please stop talking?!?!”

Empower your children to talk more about their day with these family mealtime conversation starters.
Sometimes the conversation is too much at dinner that Joey eats dessert under the table!

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Comments

  1. Corina says

    December 14, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    Great ideas! My children are 20 months and 3.5 and sometimes it is difficult to think of original things to talk about. My three year old likes me to tell stories at the moment and she takes over and changes the stories as I’m telling them. I do sometimes feel my younger one gets a bit left out of the conversation as he’s a bit young to follow us.

    Reply
  2. Stefanie / The Monarch Mommy says

    December 14, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    These are some great ideas! It’s always a challenge to get our 3 year old to open up at the table. I’ll have to try some of these tips.

    Reply
  3. T Austin says

    December 14, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    What a great idea! What a great list of toddler conversations! So important to talk with little ones for language development. This is so important!

    Reply
  4. Betsy says

    December 14, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    I love that you are placing an emphasis on conversation when they are little! It is such a precious thing to cultivate.

    Reply
  5. Stephanie says

    December 15, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    What a great tool. I struggle with topics at lunch because I don’t want to ask how school went because my husband asks that every evening at dinner. I now have tons of new material to use with him.

    Reply
  6. Diane says

    September 20, 2020 at 11:08 am

    I was just reading an article about the importance of family meal time together, https://www.ez.insure/landing/2018/10/the-importance-of-family-mealtimes/. It made me think to myself, well that can I talk about with them?! Which led me to your article. These are great tips, thank you for posting, I will be using it tonight!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Table Talk: Tips and Tricks for Feeding Young Children - Mom to Mom Nutrition says:
    July 6, 2017 at 5:09 pm

    […] 10 Family Mealtime Conversation Starters for Kids […]

    Reply
  2. How Breakfast Can Be Great Family Bonding Time – A Nation of Moms says:
    June 28, 2018 at 11:17 am

    […] down for breakfast is a wonderful opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with the ones you love. Ask each other about how the week has been going and what each person is […]

    Reply

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Katie Serbinski at Mom to Mom Nutrition

WELCOME!

Hi, I’m Katie! Registered Dietitian, Mom, and Mealtime Negotiator. I’m on a mission to make mealtime happier, healthier, and easier with small children, despite what my 4 picky eaters have me believing. From family-friendly recipes to confessions about my unfiltered motherhood moments, I hope you grab a seat at my kitchen table!
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