4/1/25 blog post

starting the conversation with kids: 40+ fun and engaging questions to ask

Having conversations with kids helps them build confidence, friendships, and important life skills. And the best part? Great conversations can happen anytime! Keep reading for 40+ fun and easy conversation starters to get kids talking.

Click here to download a printable version of the conversation starters

start the conversation about: school

What was the best thing that happened at school today?
Tell me about something you learned today.
What is your favorite part about school so far?
Which classmate do you get most excited to see every day?
What is your favorite school subject? What do you like about that subject?
If you could make a rule for your classroom, what would it be?
What is something kind you can do for a classmate tomorrow?

start the conversation about: who they are

What’s one thing that you want to do when you grow up? Why?
What is your favorite song? What do you like about it?
If you could meet any person in the world, who would it be and why?
If you could build a dream house, what would it look like?
What was your most embarrassing moment and how did you handle it?
What are some things that you like about yourself?
If you could pick a new name, what would you choose? Why?
Tell me about your favorite book.
If you could pick a new name, what would you choose? Why?

start the conversation about: friendships

Who are your friends? What do you like to do together?
What do you enjoy doing with your friends?
What do you do when you see someone making fun of another kid at school?
How does it make you feel to see other kids being made fun of at school?

start the conversation about: kindness

Were you kind to someone today, and can you tell me more about that?
What does kindness mean to you?
How do you show kindness to yourself?
What is one thing you can do to show kindness to others?
How does it make you feel when someone shows kindness to you?
How can you be kind at home?

start the conversation about : sports and being an athlete

What is your favorite part about playing this sport?
How are you a good team player?
What skills do you want to improve on?
What can you do if you lose a game?
How can you show good sportsmanship when you win?
How can you support a teammate who had a tough game?

start the conversation about: emotions

When you feel sad, what do you think about to make yourself feel happy again?
What do you like most about yourself?
Who are your friends? What do you enjoy doing with them?
What do you really like to do with your family?
What makes you super happy?

Why is it important to start the conversation?

Developing healthy children who build meaningful relationships requires one very important step: having conversations.

The more that having conversations becomes a natural part of family life, the more likely parents will be able to notice changes in a child’s behavior like feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, depression or other challenges. Children will also be more comfortable talking with adults they trust having conversations with about tough subjects like relationships, school struggles, problems with peers, sexual behaviors, substance use, their future plans and goals, death of a friend or family member, stressful current events...and much more.

Children who have conversations are better equipped to: