“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24
We have all read the importance of family time at the table, and admittedly our family doesn’t always have a great deal of meals at the table together. Between Jonathan’s baseball and Savannah’s ballet lessons, we find ourselves picknicking in the park while we watch a game or just grabbing meals where we can separately. And quite frankly, there are times we commit the cardinal sin of family dining and eat upstairs while we watch a movie together- and, yes, my family room carpet has the stains to prove it.
But when we do manage to sit down together around the table, I have found that conversation is not always easy to get started. Bonding and getting that “family together” feeling doesn’t just spontaneously flow after long days of school and work. So we have found some conversation starters, or just plain “dinner-fun time” things,
that get the conversation primed or at least kept us from just staring like zombies.
1. “Would you Rather?”
Josh and I even use this one for date nights to get us started talking. It’s pretty easy- you create a scenario with 2 or more options. The key is to make the choices equally hard and everyone must not only answer, but also tell “why” they answered as they did. You will be surprised what you will learn about your kids from their answers!
-Would you rather vacation on the beach, in a big city, or in the mountains?
-Would you rather spend all day doing schoolwork or doing chores?
-Would you rather have your toenail ripped off or lose an ear lobe?
(We have actually purchased the would you rather cards, but the choices usually seem too obvious- we have had more fun making up our own.)
2. Trivia
We love games, but due to a busy schedule don’t always get a chance to sit down and play. But I pulled a stack of Bible trivia cards down and we have loved playing this at the table. We have also purchased trivia games new or used at thrift and used all kinds from “Beat the Parents” to Trivial Pursuit for kids and adults. Always a lot of fun.
3. Animal Game
This one is just fun for little kids, but makes them feel like dinner was a great family time. Rules are simple- go around the table naming different animals. Name one that’s already been named and you’re out. For older kids, you could use animal groups like name Mammals, etc. Our kids love animal shows and so really get into naming different species.
4. Guess Who
This one we started playing with Disney characters since we are BIG Time fans. One person thinks of a Disney character and the rest of the players ask “yes” or “no” questions to discover who the mystery character is.
(“Is it a boy?” “Is it an animal character?” “Is he in a princess movie?”, etc.)
Older kids can play a Bible character version, which is more challenging, or a Family/Friend version.
5. Draw a Feeling
Ok- this is our newest table talk addition, but was a big hit. Requires a bit of prep in advance. I cut up small squares of paper then drew different expressions on faces…not really an artist, but the crazy drawings make it more fun for the kids to laugh at anyway. (Hint: if you need ideas- google: Draw Funny Expressions/Faces) I wrote the emotion underneath. Folded them up and put them in a basket. We then take turns drawing papers and then have to share a moment in our day, big or small, that we felt that way (if there was one- maybe you didn’t experience that feeling at all that day, then you pass.) Some we have used are “I felt… smart, happy, sad, mad, excited, silly, frustrated, accomplished, loved, sneaky, etc when…”
6. Good Words Game
The kids whose “love language” is words will eat this one up! Our Savanah gets giggly and misty-eyed at the same time when we play this one.
Begin with the youngest and everyone at the table takes turns saying something good or what they love about that person. Once we have done the rounds for every family member, we end by all saying one thing we love about God.
Have any special “Table Tactics” you’ve employed? Please share in the comments below!
