Sonia M. Rompoti, MSc, Bsc

You finally finished all your work and chores ahead of time and have some time to spend with your kids without worrying about the clock. You go to talk with them, but that ship seems to have sailed on their part. What to do? How do you jump start the conversation?

A lot of people worry about jumpstarting their relationship with their own kids. It should come easy, right? Yet, it isn’t. Often, by the time you are ready to spend time with children, they have gotten so used to being on their own that they no longer have time for you. And that’s when you realise how long it has been. So, let me throw some ideas in the mix.. and who knows? One of them might catch their attention enough…

I’m interested about your day. Do you want to tell me about the greatest moments of your day?

What friends did you make today at school? What games did you play?

How did you surprise someone with kindness today? Did you smile?

I am proud of you! Do you feel proud of yourself, as much as I do? What are you most proud of?

What are you grateful for?

I’m curious; what is the one thing you feel you excel the most at?

Which of your friends do you consider the nicest?

For this [time of year], this [week], this [month], what are you most looking forward to?

If you could alter the course of history, what would you change?

How can our household improve the world for the better?

If you could have any power as a superhero, what would it be? Why?

Which toy would you choose to preserve forever if you could only have one?

Consider yourself the instructor for a day; what classroom policies would you put in place?

Assuming you could switch places with any animal, which one would you choose and why?

What would you want to do if we had more time to ourselves?

Let’s pretend your age doesn’t matter. Approximately how old would you be? Why?

The question is: if you could be any cartoon character, who would you be?

To what extent does one have an obligation to their friends?

To what do you attribute our family’s closeness?

When you’re feeling down, what do you do to perk up?

Which holiday do you look forward to the most?

Let me ask you something: which room in our house do you like the most?