Conversation Starters -Things to Talk about with Grandparents

Family is such a blessing, but sadly many of us live thousands of miles apart from our extended families including grandma and grandpa. Thankfully, we live in an era with so many ways to communicate from writing letters, texting, sending emails, Facebook and facetime. But knowing what to talk about can be tricky. Here are some conversation starters so you’ll have fun ideas of Things to Talk about with Grandparents. 

Things to Talk about with Grandparents

Staying at home and practicing social distancing is essential from flattening the curve and keeping everyone safe, but it’s hard. Whether Nanna and Pops live in your neighborhood or in another state, it is important for grandkids to get to know and maintain relationships with their abuelos! Here are some fun Things to Talk about with Grandparents. These conversations starters for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and any family or friend that is outside of your house feel like a welcome guest with these fun topics to talk about.

Hopefully you can facetime, Skype, Zoom or some other method that allows you to see and hear one another.  And these ideas for what to talk about with grandparents will help make your chat a success.

Conversation Starters for Grandparents

You want to stay away from open ended questions which are way to easy for kids to answer with a yes or no! So don’t say “did you have a good day today?” as you will likely only get “yes” or “no”. Instead as “What did you do today”, “what was your favorite thing you did today”, etc. See the difference? When you have distance between you, you can’t rely on hugs, kisses, cookies, games, and laughter to get you through…. you need some coversation!

Best Conversation Starters

Ideas for grandparents to ask grandchildren:

• Tell a joke.
• Share a funny story.
• Reminisce together… remember when we went on ___ trip together.
• What you had for dinner?
• How is school going?
• If we could only have one holiday – which one would you pick?
• What did you play today?
• What are you going to do tonight?
• What book are you reading?
• If you went to another planet – what would you bring with you?
• What are you missing about your “normal life” today?
• If you could make up any holiday – what would it be called?
• If your pets could talk, what would they say?
•  If you had to rename yourself –what name would you give yourself?
• What are three things you are grateful for today?
• If you could make the family rules, what are 3 rules you’d make?
• What is your favorite food?
• How many kids do you think you’ll have when you grow up?
• What is your favorite subject in school and why?
• If you could make your whole house out of food – what food would you use?
• If you could have one super power what would it be?
• If you could be an animal what would you be?
• What do you want to be when you grown up?
• If we could go on a trip right now… where would we go? What would we do?
• Which is better to be – funny or honest?
• What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
• If you could only have one wish – what would it be?
• If you could read someone’s mind – whose mind would you want to read?
• If you were invisible – where would you want to go?
• Who is your favorite friend? What do you like about him/her?
• What makes a good friend?
• If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
• If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
• If you had to live with a cartoon character – who would you pick?
• If you won $100, what would you do with it?
• If you could only eat one fruit forever – what fruit would it be?
• What’s your funniest face?
• What are three words you would uses to describe yourself?
• Which is better – being invisible or being able to fly?
• If you could be any age – what age would you want to be?

What to talk about with grandparents

Ideas to help Grams and Gramps to have fun, verbose conversations with their grandchildren:

• What is your favorite holiday & why
• What is your favorite holiday tradition?
• Were you named after a family member or does your name have a special meaning?
• Did you have a nickname growing up? How did you get the nickname?
• What was your favorite place to go as a kid?
• Where were you born? What was your house like as a child?
• How did your family spend time together when you were young?
• What was your favorite food growing up?
• What was your favorite subject in school?
• What hobbies did you have as a child?
• Did you have a best friend?
• What was your favorite toy as a child?
• Did you get an allowance? How much was it and what did you spend your money on?
• Did you ever get in trouble as a child or teenager?
• How did you meet grandma/grandpa?
• What was my mom/dad like as a child?
• If we could go anywhere right now… where would it be?
• What was your first job?
• What was your favorite job?
• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• Where have you traveled? What is your favorite city to visit?
• What is the earliest memory that you have?
• Have you owned any pets?
• What is your favorite food?
• What is different about growing up today than when you were a child?
• What is your favorite thing about being a grandparent?

Looking for other ways to hang out with grandparents as you stay at home?

• Play a board game! Believe it or not there are some games (battleship, monopoly, yatzee, scrabble, scattegories) that you can play together if you both have the games at your homes
• Read a book. Grandma can still read you a bedtime story.
• Sing a song. You can sign together or one of you can perform for the other.
• Performance. Kids can share their latest piano / guitar / instrument piece they have been working on.
• Madlibs. Do a mad lib together over the phone.
• Tell a Silly Story.
• Play the ABC Game or I spy
• Guided Drawing together
• Show off your artwork
• Peek-a-boo (depending on the age of child)