Ever had a hard time getting more than a one-word answer from your child while trying to start a dinner time conversation? Many other parents have as well! Wayne Parker explores the problem and offers some ideas to solve it in this great article on About.com.

“What were the highs and lows of your day, today?” Rather than just a quick summary of the day’s activities, a question like this focuses on evaluating and offering opinions about the day.

“The word of the day is enthrall.”
The New York Times has a word of the day website where you can get ideas.

“If you could invite three famous people to dinner, who would they be and what would you want to talk about?” Questions that get children and adults to think less superficially will often start great conversations.

“Does our family seem too busy? What should we change to change that?” Questions that ask for feedback on family lifestyle open some doors to meaningful conversation.