How to Spark Conversation at the Family Dinner Table
Today was turning into a good night. You managed to escape the what’s for dinner sweatathon. You knew what you wanted to cook, had the ingredients on hand and whipped up dinner in no time flat all with a modicum of mess. Now you are ready for the ohs and ahs, the accolades, the appreciation, the inspired dinner conversation followed by a deep breath and a sigh of relief for a meal well done.
Then reality sets in. Your family is not stampeding their way to the kitchen. You start to grit your teeth. You repeatedly scream “get off your phone, turn off the Xbox, no more technology,
“DINNER IS READY NOWWW”.
Slowly your family takes their place at the table. Piles of uneaten food are skillfully maneuvered and strategically relocated on plates while your kids inaudibly mumble good, ok and fine to your mind-numbing questions. Holy crap this is not the motherhood you signed up for when you agreed to have swollen feet and strut with an off balanced waddle for nine months.
Where’s the relaxation, the sharing, the communication, and the laughter?
The bonding, the kitchen is the heart of the home razzamatazz? Before you can finish chewing your first bite, someone announces they are finished, can they be excused. NO. It’s time to rise-up and stand your ground against this injustice. No more uninspired grunting allowed. Banish the insipidly boring conversation. You deserve better. Your family deserves better. It is time you learned the secret of how to make your family meals memorable and enjoyable. Conversation ideas, talking points and yes, even games, are the key ingredient in every successful meal.
A Balaboosta has special spices of life at her fingertips at all time and if you stick around, you will too.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
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Car Games
Even though there’s nowhere to go because you are already there, playing car games at the dinner table are an easy way to get a dialog started. Now’s the time to dust off those games you used to pass the time with on long road trips that always made the going, not just the getting there good.
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MadLibs
Yes, Madlibs are as engaging today as they were when you were a kid. Pick up a pack or two on topics that are interesting to your kids (the options are endless). Pick someone to be the designated reader/questioner (take turns being this position for each different MadLib page). The reader announces the part of speech needed (remind younger kids what a noun is: person, place or thing etc.) and then go round the table filling in the blanks – first blank is answered by the youngest, second blank by the next in age or first one answered by the person to the right of the reader…. it’s your house, you make the rules for the pecking order!
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Ditch the Board, Keep the Cards.
You know you have them. Trivia board games on your playroom shelves, game pieces missing, cardboard box warping from the weight of other games and toys piled on top of it and dust everywhere because hand help electronics have now taken over your kids’ brain. Put those damn clever cards to use. Who cares if you’re the first one to land in the winner’s circle? You can still show off your smarts or laugh at your shortcomings by reading the cards aloud at the dinner table. Winner, with the most correct answers, gets to pick tonight’s t.v. show, picks dessert…..you get the idea, rewards still rule your kids’ world.
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Round Robin Stories
Yes, like the round robin tennis tournaments you used to play only this time it’s with storytelling. One person starts telling a tale, Once upon a time is an easy starting point. After a few sentences, the next person continues the story taking it in whatever direction he or she wants. Go around the table taking turns adding to the story until it reaches its logical or illogical conclusion. It’s okay to set some ground rules. For instance, my son is forever banned from making the story about the Yankees!
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Wacky Words
Find a dictionary in your house. The old-fashioned kind. The one with a spine and pages. Breath life back into it. It is not time to put your dog eared unabridged dictionary to pasture just yet.
Pick someone to be the Wacky Word Wizard (rotate this position after each round). The Wacky Word Wizard picks an obscure, strange or weird sounding word from the dictionary, announces it and spells it. If feeling generous, the part of speech can be given as a clue. The definition must not be given. Everyone writes down (or tells) what they think the definition is. You can even try using it in a sentence. After all guesses are in, the Wacky Word Wizard reads the actual definition.
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The person whose guess was closest to the actual meaning gets a point. If no one was close, the Wacky Word Wizard gets a point. If the guesses are written, the Wacky Word Wizard can write down the real definition. When all guesses are done, the Wacky Word Wizard reads all the possible answers (including the real one). Everyone votes on the definition they think is legit. They do not have to vote on their own submission. A point is given for each correct vote. If no one guesses correctly, the Wacky Wizard gets the point.
As in most games for kids, and as stated above, remember the winner gets a reward…. rewards always rule.
See, it’s easy to stock your parenting pantry with all sorts of delicious spice of life secret ingredients.
What’s in your game plan for tonight’s dinner? Please share what’s on your fun and games menu tonight in the comments below. Thanks. Smiles.
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