TableTopics
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About a year ago I stumbled upon TableTopics. If you aren’t familiar, it’s a simple set of cards that have questions on them to stimulate conversation. We have always been big “family dinner” people and encouraged our children to talk about their day with us. We thought this would be great to draw out S1 and S2 as they really don’t communicate well and are often unable to comprehend that others even have feelings. It was quite disastrous when we started honestly, and S1 in particular was sent to his room several times after being unable to say anything nice about anyone and LM was frustrated beyond belief. After a year they have now begun ASKING to play TableTopics, and we enjoy doing so. Tonight at dinner S1 asked, and because our actual TT set was at our other home, we made up our own questions, which the kids find fun.
The questions started out simply enough:
S2 - who is 6 years old: Okay no one can ask what your favorite color is, we do that every time. (I had to laugh and pointed out that HE is the one that always asks, lol.)
S1: What is the coolest thing you have ever seen? (Answers range from Stonehenge to an Air Show.)
S1 goes again: What one thing happened to you that you thought would be good but which turned out really horrible?
LMFAO! Can you imagine the looks on our faces as we turned to each other and said: “we’ll continue to play this later.” No, LM did not say: Marrying your mother. Yes, LM wanted to, I assure you. Sometimes I hate having morals…
February 28th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Oh my word I am laughing right now because as I read the sentence he asked the words came out of my mouth, “marrying your mom.” and then I read your answer. So stinkin funny. I love that idea for a game! Our kids have a hard time expressing themselves to others. They are shy and give a lot of one-worded answers. That would really help them!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Ha ha, I thought the same thing. Great (and devious) minds think alike. The kids and I played a game where we tell a story one word at a time…it sounds lame, but it gets really fun because just when you think the story is going a particular place, someone throws that odd word in that tosses the whole thing off.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:20 am
LOL! I loooooooove Table Topics (though my version is one for a Girls Night Out, so it’s kind of different, and probably not suitable for a family dinner). I’d be biting my tongue to not reply that way either!
February 29th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Sarah, The question before that one was “what is your favorite thing to do?” I winked at LM and said “it better be me,” lmfao.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
We just ordered the family version of Table Topics. Great idea - thanks for sharing. I think this will help everyone in our house talk to each other a little bit more.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
They’ll talk a LOT’A'BIT more.
March 1st, 2008 at 4:39 am
You’re not kidding!
We tried the table topics questions tonight, and the kids LOVED it! The two quieter kids (ages 7 and 13 - quiet for completely different reasons!) were really talking and thinking. This was a huge hit at our house, and a great ice-breaker for that first night of easing into dad’s house. Thank you.
March 1st, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Little Wren,
You’re entirely welcome! An amazingly simple concept that can really bring dinnertime (or anytime) back to familial interaction.
Wait until they start complaining when you stop after 5 cards because they want to do 50 or 60.
Enjoy!