| Author | |
mom2mpr
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
|
| Posted: Aug 27 2009 at 10:05pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Dh usually isn't home for dinner and I am having a little trouble keeping the dc at the table for the meal.It is our 3rd meal together for the day. I was thinking today that maybe I should come up with cards with questions for us to answer, to learn about things and each other.
We are together all day and their really isn't a lot to talk about, if you know what I mean. Do you have any suggestions?
I can do the "what is your favorite.....?", some questions from school work from the day(oh, that will be a hit  ), "what would you do if....?", etc.
Any more ideas to help start some discussion and keep them engaged(and eating)?
I need a lot of suggestions!
My kids are 11 and 6.
Thanks, Anne
PS-I am going to dig out my Friendly Defenders(my 6 year old won't be able to answer most) and those Brain Builder ones. But I wanted something more personal too, you know?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Aug 27 2009 at 10:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
It could be a good time to start on some moral issues.. modesty and why we dress as we do, or talking about vocations etc.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Michaela
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2052
|
| Posted: Aug 28 2009 at 11:01am | IP Logged
|
|
|
How fun, Anne!
My thoughts...(because you've inspired me to give this a try)...I'd stay clear of anything resembling lessons, at least in the beginning. My kids love to compete against one another though. 
Decorate a special box that only comes out during dinner.
In it add the conversation starter questions.
Each night, pull one card at a time....maybe up to 3 or 5.
Your children could each have a turn picking a card.
Here are some questions to get started. They are easy to tweak if you'd like to change the wording a little bit.
Conversation Starters
Family Meal Conversation Starters
More Conversation Starters
Conversation game -- one already made for purchase (don't know the questions though)
__________________
Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: Aug 28 2009 at 11:41am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm thinking of some verbal party games and car games we used to play that could be fun and create some great memories. Like, what about the one where you start a story but stop in the middle of a sentence and the next person picks it up for a minute and so on. Or Animal, Vegetable, Mineral (20 Questions).
Susan
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LucyP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 791
|
| Posted: Aug 31 2009 at 7:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My mum sometimes did with us girls what her maternal grandparents did with her when she stayed with them - we had to read the paper/listen to the news, and discuss a topic of interest.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Paula in MN
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 25 2006
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4064
|
| Posted: Aug 31 2009 at 7:30am | IP Logged
|
|
|
At times I've made the kids be in charge of discussion topics and questions, prior approval needed of course. They are excited all day planning what they want to talk about.
__________________
 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
guitarnan
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 10883
|
| Posted: Aug 31 2009 at 9:31am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dining by candlelight somehow inspires children to behave well and practice their best table manners...
...and I love the idea of Friendly Defenders!
__________________
Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mom2mpr
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
|
| Posted: Aug 31 2009 at 1:37pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh, great suggestions ladies. Thank you.
Anne
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Dinner entertainment ideas?
