35 Conversation Starters to Get Kids Talking

When it comes to kids, there are some who are quite chatty and others who you have a hard time prying anything out of. If your child is the latter, it's helpful to have a few questions in your back pocket that naturally lend themselves to conversations. Below is a great list of conversation starters to get the words flowing. But first, a few quick pointers when it comes to striking up conversation as a two-way street:

First, avoid questions that start with “why,” such as “Why do you like that food?” or “Why would you pick that?” Why questions tend to naturally put the other person on the defensive by virtue of the word itself. Also, steer clear of yes/no questions. Those are like dead-end streets. For example, if you ask someone, “Do you like Mexican food?” They can say yes, or they can say no. It's like a hard stop. Instead, you can ask, “What do you like about Mexican food?” which leads the person to answer with the various things they do — or don't — like about it.

Alright, let's get down to discussions. Here are 35 conversation starters to get kids talking.

1. What was something funny that happened today?
2. If you could anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
3. What is your favorite thing to play on at the playground?
4. Tell me about your favorite animal.
5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
6. What is your earliest memory?
7. What is something that makes you really happy?
8. What is your favorite thing about school?
9. What is your favorite thing about YOU?
10. When you're sad, what's something that cheers you up?
11. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
12. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
13. What is your favorite article of clothing and why?
14. What is your favorite holiday and why?
15. What is your favorite way to spend free time?
16. What is something that makes you unhappy?
17. What is the most important quality you look for in people?
18. How do you feel when something embarrassing happens to you?
19. What is something you do really well?
20. What is something you wish you were better at?
21. How do you help out around the house?
22. What is your least favorite chore?
23. What is your favorite meal of the day?
24. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
25. What is your favorite movie?
26. What is your favorite season and why?
27. What is something that makes you nervous?
28. What is your favorite subject at school?
29. What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
30. What is your best advice?
31. If you won the lottery, how would you spend your money?
32. What is your favorite song?
33. Have you ever been bullied, and if so, how did you handle it
34. What is the best compliment you have ever received?
35. Have you ever broken a bone? If so, which one, and how?

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