Life just seems to get busier and busier. Itâs easy to let work, school, and life get in the way of your relationships. Dinner is a perfect time for everyone to set aside technology and enjoy each otherâs company. But hereâs the tricky part: How do you start the fun family bonding?
You always want to ensure youâre having fun with your family. Itâs even more critical as parents because you want to create memories that last a lifetime. Conversations can be a fun and engaging way to make those memories.
This guide will help you find excellent dinner conversation starters for families. Weâll cover everything from simple questions to deep philosophical discussions. And weâll also share our top tips for making dinner conversations memorable.
Once you learn these top family dinner topics, youâll never run out of ideas again. Iâve created a list of over 100 dinner conversation starter ideas to make your family dinners more enjoyable and strengthen your family bonds.
Youâll also learn how to get started with these topics and how to expand your repertoire. If you are ready to enjoy talking with your family, even more, grab a pen and paper and read on. Weâll dive deep into the topic of family dinner conversation starters.
How To Frame Your Family Dinner Conversation Questions
Before we get to the questions, I wanted to provide a few tips when choosing questions or thinking of your own. These tips are pretty simple but critical to your success.
Ask Only Relevant Questions
This might seem apparent initially, but remember that what you think happens in someoneâs life and what is happening can be very different. For example, asking your kid about a class they arenât taking will make you look disengaged in their life.
Frame Questions In A Positive Way
Positivity gets people to open up. Negativity makes people uncomfortable and shy. Instead of asking questions like âare you failing in any of your classesâ ask questions like âwhich subject is your absolute favoriteâ or âif you had the power to get rid of any class, which class would it be?â It will make your family feel like youâre interested in them rather than interrogating them.
Throughout these questions, Iâve tried to frame all questions positively except for a few negative questions that wonât make someone defensive (like âwhich movie do you like least?â).
20 Conversation Starters About School
School is an excellent topic for conversation starters with your kids because everyone goes through school at some point. While some things might be different, many of the challenges of going through school are similar.
This common ground provides a natural place to bond with your family around the dinner table. You can offer informed advice and relate to stories from your own experience. This creates a safe environment for your kids to open up to you.
The critical thing you need to keep in mind is that you shouldnât be too general. If you ask, âhow was your day at school?â Youâll receive a simple âfine,â and that will be the end of the conversation. Here are some questions you can use to get some real conversation happening.
- âWhatâs the most interesting thing youâve learned in the last few days at school?â
- âDid any of your friends do anything funny recently?â
- âTell me what a ride on the school bus is like. Itâs been a while since Iâve been on one.â
- âWho is your favorite teacher right now?â
- âWhich school subject are you doing the best in?â
- âWhat is your favorite memory about being in school?â
- âIf you could make the school offer anything as a class, what class would you have them offer?â
- âWhat have you found is the best way to get along with other kids at school?â
- âHow did you feel when you were told you had passed a test you thought you didnât do well on?â
- âWhat is the hardest part of getting back into school after summer break?â
- âWhat is something you wish you knew before starting school?â
- âDescribe to me what you think it was like to go to school when I was a kid?â
- âWhat is one thing you hope to accomplish this year at school?â
- âWhat do you think is the most important lesson youâve learned so far at school?â
- âWhat do you think is your greatest strength at school?â
- âIf there was one thing you could tell yourself before starting school, what would it be?â
- âWhat is an example of a time where you made a mistake but handled it well?â
- âWhat is the most challenging thing about school?â
- âWhat is the funniest thing youâve seen happen at school?â
- âIf you could get rid of one food in the school cafeteria forever, which one would it be?â
21 Conversation Starters About Future Plans
With life being so busy with deadlines, projects, and chores, itâs easy to forget that there is more to life than the âpresent.â We are all on journeys through life, and itâs good to think about where our destinations are.
Here are some questions to help your family start thinking about the future, not just for themselves, but for the family as a whole!
- âWhat do you hope to accomplish in the next five years?â
- âAre there any places you want our family to visit in the future?â
- âWhat are three landmarks you would love to see?â
- âIf you could own any business, which one would it be?â
- âWhat do we need to work on right now to ensure we have a happy, healthy, successful family in the future?â
- âHow can I make this year better than last year?â
- âWhat will we do when we retire? Where will we live?â
- âWhat kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?â
- âWho do you want to spend more time with?â
- âWhat does God want us to learn from this season of life?â
- âWhat are some things that you would like me to teach you in the future?â
- âWhat kind of jobs would you like to do?â
- âWhat would your dream job be if you could do anything?â
- âWhat things could you start doing today to get where you hope to be in the future?â
- âWhat are your friendsâ hopes, dreams, and aspirations?â
- âIf you could have three wishes or prayers granted, but they would only come true ten years from now, what would they be?â
- â50 years ago, the world was very different. How do you think the world will change 50 years from now?â
- âWhat changes do you think will happen in your lifetime?â
- âWhat would you like to see changed in the world?â
- âWhat is a task we have to do now that we will no longer need to do in the future?â
- âWhat do you think will be the coolest technological advancement ten years from now?â
14 Conversation Starters About Upcoming Events
Itâs good to talk about upcoming events at dinner because it helps get your family excited about the event! Additionally, you can get everyoneâs feedback about what they think should happen at the event. Quality conversations lead to even better quality time! Thatâs a win-win!
What kind of food do they want at the upcoming 4th of July party? Where do they want to go for winter vacation? Lots of good information can be had, and you get to enjoy the excitement of upcoming events before they even happen!
- âWhat are you looking forward to most about the 4th of July?â
- âWhat are three fun activities youâd like to do together this summer?â
- âWhere should we celebrate the next birthday?â
- âWhat Christmas movies do you want to watch as Christmas approaches?â
- âWhat food should we have on the 4th of July?â
- âWhere would you most like to go for your birthday dinner?â
- âWhat two things would you like to try this holiday season?â
- âWhat should we do on Motherâs Day?â
- âWhich holiday are you looking forward to most?â
- âWhat are your top 3 favorite Thanksgiving desserts?â
- âIf you could see a New Yearâs Eve firework display anywhere in the world, where would it be?â
- âNational Hot Dog Day is next Wednesday. What toppings would you have on your perfect hot dog?â
- âOn the last day of school, what special things would you want to do?â
- âWho are you most excited to see at the upcoming family reunion?â
18 Conversation Starters About Traveling As A Family
Have you ever wanted to travel somewhere new but didnât know where? Or maybe you just donât know what places your family would enjoy visiting. Well, now is the chance to find out!
Travel planning is a fun activity for families to engage in together. It allows them to share their interests and desires while learning about each otherâs interests and desires.
Here are some conversation starters about traveling:
- âWhat countries do you want to visit someday?â
- âWould you rather camp at the base of a snowy mountain or on the banks of a huge lake?â
- âWhat are some places youâve always wanted to visit?â
- âWhat are five places youâd like to visit in the near future?â
- âWould you rather stay in a hotel or rent a house when traveling?â
- âWhat are five things youâll never leave home without?â
- âWould you rather fly, drive, or rent an RV when traveling?â
- âWould you rather stay at a fancy hotel, rent an RV, or camp using tents?â
- âWould you rather relax on the beaches of Costa Rica or ski in the Swiss Alps?â
- âIf you could go on a road trip anywhere, what would the destination be, and where would you want to stop along the way?â
- âWould you rather stay at an all-inclusive resort or go on a cruise?â
- âIf you were going on a cruise, would you rather cruise through the arctic or tropical islands?
- âWould you rather spend time with friends or family when traveling?â
- âAre there any destinations that youâre not interested in visiting?â
- âIf you were going on a cruise, what three things would you need to bring, besides clothes or toiletries?â
- âIf you could only take one picture on our upcoming trip, what picture would you take?â
- âWould you prefer taking lots of pictures for the memories or just being in the moment, even if it means having no pictures of the trip?â
- âWhat is one food you would like to try in a different country?â
15 Conversation Starters About Family History
Family history is a fun activity for families to engage in together. It allows them to share their interests and desires while learning about each otherâs interests and desires.
Here are some conversation starters about family history:
- âWhat is one piece of our family history youâre not sure about?â
- âDo you have any photos from our familyâs past?â
- âWhat are five things you would like to learn more about your familyâs history?â
- âWhat is the most interesting family heirloom that we own?â
- âWhat is one family tradition that you would like to start?â
- âWhat is your earliest memory?â
- You can discuss any exciting discoveries about your familyâs genealogy.
- Discuss a specific member of your familyâs lineage.
- Discuss information about different countries your family originates from, including what the country was like when your ancestor lived there.
- Talk about laws during the time your ancestors were alive and how those laws might have impacted them and your family tree.
- What are some of the customs and holidays that your ancestors might have done or celebrated?
- What civic groups did your ancestors participate in, and what were their goals?
- Share newspaper clippings you can find about your family members.
- Did your ancestors start any kind of charity or volunteer to make the world a better place? You can discuss their story to help inspire selflessness in your family.
- Do you have any authors in your family tree? Perhaps obtain their book and read some of it at dinner if you can.
17 Conversation Starters About Your Family Pets
Pets are a constant source of fun and affection. Theyâre also a perfect topic to add some light-hearted fun to a family dinner conversation.
Here are some conversation starters about pets:
- âWhat is the silliest thing youâve seen our pet do?â
- âWould you rather have a cat, dog, or a bird? Why?â
- âIf you could have any exotic animal as a pet, which animal would you choose?â
- âIf you had a pet tiger, what would you name it, and what tricks would you want to teach it?â
- âWhat is the best thing about having a pet?â
- âWhat is the worst thing about having a pet?â
- âWhat is the best pet trick that you have ever seen?â
- âIf you could dress your pet up as any celebrity, which celebrity would that be?â
- âIf your pet were in a movie, which movie do you think theyâd fit best in?â
- âWhat song describes your pet best?â
- âWhat is the silliest pet costume that you have ever seen?â
- âWhat is the best way to show your love for your pet?â
- âWhat is the funniest pet video youâve ever seen?â
- âWhich do you think is smarter, a dog or a cat?â
- âWhich breed of dog do you think is the cutest?â
- âWhich breed of dog do you think is the most intimidating?â
- âWhat kind of pets will you want when youâre older?â
15 Conversation Starters About Your Familyâs Favorite Things
This section is all about finding out all of your familyâs favorite things. This is a great way to get to know your family members. This will also give you ideas for arranging more quality time opportunities. Knowing favorites will help you plan holiday meals, birthday parties, and other important events and celebrations.
- âWhat is your favorite family tradition that we do?â
- âWhat is your favorite holiday?â
- What are your top favorite foods?â
- âWhat is your favorite song?
- âWhat is your favorite music genre?â
- âWhat is your favorite family memory?
- âWhat is your favorite season and why?â
- âWhat is (or would be) your favorite family vacation destination?â
- âWhat is your favorite family activity to do together?â
- âWhat is your favorite movie of all time?â
- âWho is your favorite movie character?â
- âWho is your favorite cartoon character?â
- âWho is your favorite book character?â
- âWho is your favorite biblical figure?â
- âWhat is your favorite time period?â
13 Conversation Starters About Games
Games are not only great for entertaining your family, but theyâre also a source of conversation that people are enthusiastic to talk about. They can be something that you all share in common or something that is specific to one member of the family.
Here are some conversation starters about games:
- âWhat is the best game that you have ever played?â
- âWhat is the worst game that you have ever played?â
- âWhich is better, Rock, Paper, Scissors, or Tic Tac Toe?â Afterward, you can challenge the whole family to a game.
- âDo you prefer playing games or watching people play games?â
- âDo you have any favorite games you want to share with us?â
- âWhich games would make for a great family game night?â
- âWhat is your best memory of playing your favorite game?â
- âDo you get to play your favorite games with your friends, or are they more 1-player games?â
- âDo you prefer board games, word games, or video games?â
- âIf you could make any game into a movie, which game would you pick, and what would the movie plot be?â
- âIf you could only play one game for the rest of your life, which game would it be?â
- âWhat is better, word searches or crosswords?â
- âWhat book or movie should be turned into a game?â
16 Conversation Starters About Movies
Movies are a thread that ties together many generations. While you may not be up-to-date on the latest actors, the stories in modern movies are often very similar to movies you enjoyed as a kid. Another great thing about movies is that people tend to be passionate about their favorites.
Here are some conversation starters about movies:
- âWhat is your favorite movie?â
- âWhat is the worst movie that you have ever seen?â
- âWhat is the best movie that you have ever seen?â
- âWhat is the most popular movie that you know of?â
- âWhich movie do you think would make for a great family movie night?â
- âWhat is your favorite scene from a movie?â
- âIf you could be any character in any movie, which character would you want to be?â
- âWhich character in a movie do you think is most like you?â
- âWhich two heroes from any movies do you think would make excellent partners in a new movie?â
- âHave you ever wanted to make a movie? If so, what would it be about?â
- âIf you could replace the actor/actress in any movie, which actor/actress would you replace and why?â
- âIf you could change any movie plot, which movie plot would you change and why?â
- âWhatâs the biggest mistake youâve ever noticed in a movie?â
- âIf you could remake any movie using animals, which movie would you remake and which animals would you use?â
- âWhat is your favorite movie about animals?â
- If any book could be turned into a movie, which book would you choose?â
12 Silly Conversation Starters
A family meal wouldnât be complete without some laughs and silliness. Here are some silly and funny conversation starters to bring out the laughs in your family.
- âIf you could have any superpower that isnât useful, what superpower would you choose?â
- âIf you could use a time machine to go back in time and blow peopleâs minds with something, what time period would you travel to, and what would you show or tell them?â
- âWhat three foods should you never bring to a family picnic?â
- âYou are mistaken as a tour guide for the Statue of Liberty. Do your best to make up facts and give a fake tour.â
- âMake up the grossest meal you can think of.â
- âThe police pull you over for speeding; whatâs the worst excuse you can think of?â
- âYou are judging the âworst talent show on earth.â What is the winnerâs talent?â
- âYou are traveling back to the 1700s; what three items would you bring?â
- âStarting with the first letter of your first name, what words describe your mom?â
- âIf you turned on the faucet and could have anything come out, what would it be?â
- âYouâre the king or queen of a castle being invaded; you only have childrenâs toys to defend it. Which toys do you use, and how do you use them?â
- âYou must invent a potato chip flavor that doesnât taste like another food. What is the flavor you think of?â
Final Thoughts
Conversation starters are a fantastic way to start a lively discussion with your family at dinner time. By sharing topics you are passionate about, you can create a safe and comfortable environment for talking about anything and everything.
When gathering around the family dinner table, itâs critical to make the most of it. The time goes by so quickly, and itâs so special. Today is the day when you promise yourself: âno more quiet dinners.â I know you wonât regret it.
I hope this list of questions helps your family enjoy their time together more. I hope it helps bring a deeper level of connection to your family.