Teach Your Kids to be Conversationalists!

To teach your kids to be conversationalists is easier
than you might think and a great asset to them.
It will ease their stress when making friends and teach good communication skills.

Be sure to teach the conversation tips and common courtesy that accompanies all conversation, and you are off to the races!


1. Model good communication skills -- your children will observe you with friends and family and will learn from your example, so model respectful and thoughtful communication.

2. Coach your kids in the conversation tips. Worth repeating: Teach them to be genuinely interested and ask questions. Teach common courtesy in communication :)

3. Before your child goes out with a new friend;
goes over to someone's house for the first time;
or you have guests over.
Help them prepare some questions to ask.
They may not formally write these questions or topics down, but give them suggestions as to what would be appropriate conversation.

You are their conversation coach!

For example:
1. Do you have siblings? How many? Where do you fit in? Oldest? Youngest? Middle?
2. Have you lived here all your life?
3. If not, find out where else they've lived?
4. What do they like about where they live? Dislike?
5. What's their favorite food(s)? Movie(s)? TV show(s)?
6. What do they like to do in their free time?
7. Hobbies? Interests?
8. Do they play a sport? Sing? Play an instrument?
9. If they know each other from school or church, they can ask questions about that.
10. Who is their favorite teacher(s)? Why?
11. What do they like about school? Dislike about school?
12. Who are their friends?
13. What do they like best about the church? If that applies.
14. How did their parents meet?
15. What was their most embarrassing moment?
16. Does your family have a favorite vacation spot? What do they like about it?

Brainstorm with your child until he or she feels they have enough "pre-planned" questions to start a conversation.

They may never need them and that's fine. But if they do, they are prepared, and it should ease their tension when meeting new people.

To the journey,
Julie :)

Get Conversation cards at this link.
Conversation Starters

And Family Games here:

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to be Conversationalists.

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