Disclosure: This “Fun After School Conversation Starters Game” blog post, sponsored by Welch’s® Fruit Snacks, contains affiliate links; as an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.
Since I’ve always been a stay-at-home or work-at-home mom and we did homeschool preschool, it came as a huge shock when my oldest started Kindergarten and had a seemingly new other life during those school days I knew nothing about. Sure, the teacher sent newsletters home and I volunteered for the occasional holiday or field trip. But getting my 5-year-old to answer anything but “Okay.” to “How was school today?” seemed impossible. And honestly, if I had it my way, we would have had after school conversations with a detailed play-by-play of his day from hesitant drop off to anxiously awaited pick-up.
Can I be real with you? My oldest is now 10 and his two younger siblings are in school now too, and I still have that feeling that I’m missing out on their other life during the school day! While every kid is different, none of mine are willing to offer the detailed review I’d love. I’m lucky to get more than a one-word answer most days. But I’ve come up with a plan, inspired by Welch’s Fruit Snacks, to make those after school conversations with the kids better and hopefully more fun, too.
DIY Conversation Starters Game for Better After School Conversations
First, I made a super simple conversation starter game that will get the kids talking about their school day without it feeling like mom’s nagging them. It’s seriously easy to make and can be customized with any talking topics or themes. Plus it’s perfect for taking on the go, so the kids can even play it in the car on the way home from school.
My “plan of attack” is definitely during snack time on the ride home from school. The only thing my kids are thinking about when they first get out of school is what they are going to eat! I’ll offer some Welch’s Fruit Snacks on the car ride home since they’re so delicious, convenient, and mess-free. Plus, they have fruit as the first ingredient and 100% daily value of Vitamin C and 25% daily value of Vitamins A & E. #momwin!
While they’re snacking happily, I’ll sneak in some conversation with our new After School Conversations Game. Let me show you how to make one for you and your kids…
DIY After School Conversation Starter Game
This conversation game is so clever because it provides random conversation starters based on the roll of a dice. And with the dice contained permanently inside the plastic container, you can take this conversation starter game on the go!
We used the following conversation prompts on our game: 1. LUNCH; 2. HAPPY; 3. RECESS; 4. CHALLENGE; 5. TEACHER; 6. KINDNESS. But you can put any words related to school or your kids day, such as:
- Subjects/Classes: math, science, reading, music, art, gym, recess
- Social/Emotional: friend, happy, kind, grumpy, helper, bully, challenge
- Misc. School Words: teacher, lunch, seat, computer, class pet
How to Play the After School Conversations Game:
To play, your child just holds the container upside-down and shakes it to shake the dice inside. They then read the number on the dice and flip the container over to read the corresponding conversation starter prompt.
Then, the conversation begins! Have your child tell you something about their day in relation to that word/phrase. For example, your child got 6. KINDNESS, so you ask, “Tell me one time that you showed kindness today.” or “Tell me one time someone showed kindness to you today.”
After chatting a bit about that conversation topic, you simply pass the container to the next person and repeat!
How to Make Your Own After School Conversation Starters Game:
DIY After School Conversation Starter Game
Tools
Materials
Steps
How to Make the Conversation Starter Game:
- Place the lid of 1 plastic food storage container onto construction paper and trace around it with a pencil.
- Using the traced lid shape as a guide, cut a slightly smaller lid shape from the paper.
- Using permanent marker, write the following on the lid-shaped paper: 1. LUNCH; 2. HAPPY; 3. RECESS; 4. CHALLENGE; 5. TEACHER; 6. KINDNESS. (Feel free to personalize with your choice of conversation starter words. Examples include: gym, art, reading, friends, science, learn, and book.)
- Use clear tape to attach this paper shape onto the top of the lid (with words facing up).
- Place the 1 dice inside the container and secure the lid on the container with craft adhesive. Allow to dry completely before playing.
How to Play the Conversation Starter Game:
- Hold the container upside-down and shake it. Then read the number on the dice.
- Flip the container over and read the prompt that corresponds with the number.
- Share conversation related to the prompt (example: 2. HAPPY; share something that made you happy during your day).
- Pass the container to the next person and repeat.
If you make an After School Conversations Game, make sure to stop back and let me know how it goes! I hope it gets your kids revealing those secret school day lives of theirs so you can feel connected to them, too.
Kids Conversation Starter Games on Amazon:
Not up for making your own conversation game? No worries! Grab one of these conversation starter games from Amazon…
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Find even more Conversation Starters and Social Skills Games on Amazon.
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This post is sponsored by Welch’s® Fruit Snacks. I am being compensated for this post. All comments and opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy.
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