Positive Conversation-Starters To Get Your Mini Talking

Positive Conversation-Starters in a Negative World To Get Your Mini Talking

In a world where we have instant access to gadgets, it may be difficult to get your children to sit down and have important conversations about the difficult things that are going on around them. The world is a scary, and at times confusing place. So we have created simple tools to help get your little one to sit down and reflect on the things happening in their world. 

Having conversations with your children helps build trust, improves language development and shows them its ok to be curious!

And, don't forget that children learn by example too, so showing them how to be a great listener will help them learn great communication skills they can build upon as they get older. 

Why Ask Your Little One Questions?

Just like any conversation you have had in the past, we ask questions to learn about one another. Asking your child questions helps you get to know them and to learn about the things they may be too scared to talk about or are ashamed to ask. 

Think about a time when someone asked you a question when you were scared or stressed or just needed to vent. How did you feel afterwards? Relieved? At Ease? Happy that someone took the time to hear you? Our children feel the same when we do this with them. They feel they are important and are heard.  They get a sense of assurance that they can discuss things with us whenever they feel they need too. 

Conversation-Starter Activities

Play Pretend

Kids love to play pretend. They get to be whoever they want to be and its a fun way to ask questions that may not be so comfortable asking in other situations. Playing pretend cultivates child development by learning to problem solve, coordinate, cooperate and helps spark creativity. It also helps children learn about themselves and the world around them in a safe and non judgmental way. Next time you play pretend with your child, ask them their likes and dislikes, how they are feeling and maybe even how they would react in certain situations. 

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

Books are a great way to get conversations going! Plus, who doesn't want to take a few extra minutes to snuggle up close with your mini. The questions you ask will be dependent on your child's age.

For younger children ages 12-24 months: Ask lots of questions about what they see. Let's say you are reading a book about Firetrucks so you may say "Do you see a firetruck?" or "What does a firetruck sound like?" and "What else do you see?"

For ages 2-3: Ask more open-ended questions like "What does a Fireman do?" or "How do firemen put out the fire?" 

For ages 3-5: Use questions about what you have just read that relate to things going on in your own lives. "The fireman was able to put out the fire and help save those people from the burning building. Have you ever seen a fireman put out a fire before?"

Questions To Ask Your Little One

1. What makes you happy?

2. What is something you love to do?

3. What is something you really don’t like to do?

4. How do you make other people feel happy?

5. What makes you feel the most loved?

6. How do you show other people you love them?

7. What makes you feel sad?

8. What are some ways you and Mommy/Daddy are the same?

9. What is one thing that makes you different?

10. What do you want to be when you grow up?

11. What was your favorite part of today/yesterday?

12. What is one thing you are looking forward to doing tomorrow?

Remember to have a non judgemental attitude towards any topic your child would like to discuss. This is a time for them to feel safe and secure with you and for them to feel reassured that you are there to hear and see them.