Conversation Starters

Screen time, daily life, and even trips to the grocery store are all opportunities to connect with your kids. Here’s a list of conversation starters and thought-provoking questions designed to deepen your conversations, spark creativity, and encourage critical thinking. Whether you’re talking about their favorite YouTube creators, discussing emotions, or making predictions about sci-fi movies, these questions are perfect for engaging with your kids in a meaningful way.

    • What is your favorite video you’ve watched lately?

    • Who is your favorite creator? Why do you like their work?

    • How do you discover new things to watch?

    These questions are a great way to learn what your kids are watching and spark discussions about their interests. If they’re unsure how to answer, share your own favorite videos or shows and explain how you choose what to watch. This is a simple way to help them develop mindful screen habits.

    1. If you were a tree right now, what would you look like?

    2. Describe the weather in your body.

    3. What color best describes your mood today?

    4. What song best describes your day?

    5. What dance moves best show how you feel inside?

    6. If you were a superhero, what kind of villain would you fight?

    Sometimes it’s hard for kids to express their feelings, but these creative questions help them open up in new ways. Skip the generic “How are you?” and give one of these a try—you might be surprised by what you learn!

    • What is a decision you've made recently that you're proud of?

    • What’s one thing you’d like to do that we haven’t done yet?

    • What if everyone in the world had superpowers?

    • What is your goal for watching today? To be entertained? To learn?

    • How do you choose what to watch based on that goal?

    • How long do you want to watch today? How will you stick to that intention?

    • How do you feel before you start watching? How do you feel after?

    • What emotions does this video make you feel?

    • What do you do if a video makes you feel sad or angry?

    1. How can you tell if something is an ad or sponsored content?

    2. What emotions do ads make you feel?

    3. What kinds of actions do companies want you to take after seeing an ad?

  • Next time you’re out grocery shopping with your kids, make it a thinking adventure:

    • Why is the ice cream placed across from the vegetables?

    • Why are the giant-sized cereals on the bottom shelf?

    • Why is candy surrounding the checkout register?

    • Do you have to buy two items to get the sale price?

    Turning routine tasks like grocery shopping into a game of critical thinking makes errands more exciting while teaching kids about product placement, marketing, and smart decision-making.