Dinner Conversation Starters

Busy days filled with work, school, soccer, dance, last minute conference calls before you leave the office! Wow! We lead busy lives. And it’s hard sometimes to fit a family dinner into the schedule. So when you do, make the most of it.

These fun conversation starters are the perfect way to liven up dinner. They spark imagination and creativity and might even teach you a little something you didn’t know about your family!

• What was your favorite part about today and why?
• What are the qualities that make a good friend?
• What do you think is beyond the stars?
• What is the nicest thing a friend has ever done for you?
• If you were going to have a weird, unusual pet, what would it be? Why would you want that pet?
• If you could look like anyone, who would it be? Why?
• Do you think “honesty is always the best policy”? Why or why not?
• What have you done, in school or sports or anywhere, that you are especially proud of?
• Which of your friends are you proudest of? Why?
• Have you ever had a dream that really scared you? What was it about?
• What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited?
• Not counting our religion, which religions do you find interesting? Why?
• What is the grossest thing you can think of?
• If you could trade lives with somebody you know, who would it be?
• What would you do if you were invisible for a day?
• What is your very earliest memory as a very little kid?
• Is there anything you pretend you understand, but you really don’t? What is it?
• Who do you think you are most like in our family? Why?
• Do you ever have a dream that comes back over and over? If so, what is it like?
• If you had just one wish, and it couldn’t be for more wishes, what would you wish for, and why?
• If you couldn’t watch TV or go online for a month, how would you spend that time?
• If you had $100 to spend to help people, how would you spend the money?
• If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
• If you could go anywhere in the world for a week, where would it be?
• If you could have any superpower, which would you choose?
• If you could be principal of your school for a week, what changes would you make?
• If the house were on fire and you only had five minutes to get out, what would you grab to take with you?
• If you could eat just one food, every day, for a month, and nothing else – what would it be?
• If you could talk to your whole school all at once, what would you say?
• If you could look into a crystal ball and see your future in ten years, what would you want it to look like?
• If you could trade places with your parents for a day, how would you do things differently?
• If your parents went on a month-long vacation and you could live with anyone you wanted while they were gone, who would you want to live with?
• Who have you learned the most from so far?
• What is your most embarrassing moment?
• What is your favorite holiday? What makes it your favorite?
• If you could be a cartoon character for one week, who would you be?
• What chore do you dislike? What chore do you enjoy?
• If you could paint all the rooms in the house a different color, what color would you paint each room?
• If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be and why?
• What’s one choice you really regret? How would you change that mistake?
• How can you show someone that they are special to you?
• What would you do if you saw someone making fun of another person?
• How would you describe yourself to someone who has never met you?
• What is your favorite family tradition?
• If your pet could answer three questions, what would you ask him/her?
• What qualities about your mom/dad do you hope to have when you get older?
• Do you feel like you are a leader or a follower? What makes you think that?
• What trip would you most like to take in your lifetime?
• What is the most courageous thing you have ever done?
• What do you think makes a good parent?
• Who was your favorite teacher and what made him/her so special?
• Which person in your family do you look most like?
• What superpowers would you like to have?
• If you were writing a newspaper article about your day, what would the headline be?
• If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
• If you were president, name three things that you would change about the country right away.
• If you could change one thing in the world, what would you change?
• What is the most important thing in your life?
• If you could make a movie, what would it be about?
• If you could invent something that would make life easier, what would it do?
• If your life got “stuck” at one age, what age would you choose?
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?
• What is the one thing you couldn’t live without?
• What job would you never want to have?
• If you could be any animal, which would you be?
• If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be?
• Would you rather live in the country or the city? Mountains or beach? Cottage or Apartment?
• What’s the best meal your mom/dad cooks?
• What is something you want to learn how to do and why?
• If you could start a new family tradition, what would it be?
• What do you think is your greatest talent or ability? What would you like to try to do that you haven’t had a chance to try?
• If you could travel back in time to a specific moment in history, what would it be?
• How do you know when you can trust another person?
• What would you do if you were a King or Queen?
• What do you think makes a person a success?
• Do you learn more when you win or when you lose?
• If you had to pick, would you rather be blind, deaf or dumb (not able to speak)? Why?
• If you could be an explorer for National Geographic, what area of the world would you most like to explore?
• If you could choose your own nickname, what would it be?
• If you had the attention of the world for just 30 seconds, what would you say?
• What’s the best way to spend a rainy day?
• How do you think we could become closer as a family?
• What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
• What’s your biggest challenge at school?
• Who is the funniest person you know?
• Do you want to have a family of your own someday? Why or why not?
• Which is more important: what you say or how you say it? Why?
• What is the one food you could never bring yourself to eat?

Sources: Family Education,   Everyday Family,   Beauty and Bedlam,  Create Family Connections 

What are some conversation starters your family uses to liven up the dinner table?  

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