Dinnertime Questions To Ask Your Tweens & Teens

It happened the other night… We instituted our new rule about putting phones away at the dinner table. And then we sat there. We’ve lost the ability to start a conversation with the kids without scrolling through social media, pulling news headlines, or looking at their grades and classroom updates in their school’s app. And the kids were also at a loss. So we’ve compiled a list of starter questions, just to get the ball rolling….

FUN WARNING: You may get some eye rolls, but if you make a habit of instituting some of these (or even turn it into a game), you may ALL end up having a great time! To make a game, print this blog post out, cut the questions into strips, and keep a bowl of questions on the table. You can all take turns pulling out the strips!

Hobbies

Who is your favorite band or musician?
What is your favorite book? Why?
What is your favorite thing to do outside?

School & Education

What is your favorite class? Why?
Is there a language you want to learn?
What would you like to learn more of in school?
What was something that made you laugh today at school?

Family

What’s the most embarrassing thing I do (a parent needs to ask this one)?
What is your favorite family tradition?
What is your favorite family activity/event?
What’s your favorite family recipe?
What is your favorite childhood memory?
What is your earliest/first childhood memory?

The Future

Granted, if you drill too much with these questions, they may feel like they’re on a job interview…

What do you see yourself doing in 5 years? 10 years? After college?
What do you wish you knew how to do that you can’t right now?
Do you think you are a procrastinator? Why?
If you could be famous, would you? What would you want to be known for?
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
What is your biggest goal in life?
What is your dream job?

Totally Random

What’s your favorite thing to do when you feel bored?
Who is your favorite superhero?
What was your last dream you can remember about?
Do you believe in soulmates and true love? Love at first sight?
What makes you laugh?
If you could go back in time to any point in history, where would you go and why?
What’s your favorite game to play?
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Who is the funniest person you know? Why?
What do you think the most about during the day?
Who do you think knows you best?
If you could pick your own name, what name would you pick for yourself?
If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
What would be your perfect day?
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever gotten?
What are three things you are grateful for today?
If you could own any single object that you don’t have now, what would it be?
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
What’s the best thing about being your age right now?

If you want to keep reading about technology and parenting, please check out our other blog posts:

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Smart Girl Society, Inc., is an Omaha-based nonprofit working to educate and inspire Smart & Confident girls, women, & families. Through educational workshops, civil outreach programs, and technology & social media research, we work with girls, parents, & educators to authenticity on social media and in real life. We educate how to remain safe on social media and how to avoid becoming a target of sextortion. We also inspire action for students to focus on their personal brand development, leadership, educational opportunities, and healthy social skills. Interested in learning more? Check us out!

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