If you want to get your kids talking, then you need to ask the right questions. Children are very complex beings. They can yap for hours on end without getting tired. Whereas when you do ask them, “How are you?”, they respond with a bored, “Fine.”

While they spend half the day at school, they build a life away from you. This could result in a certain drift from that parent-child relationship.

So where do you begin?

Find a family activity you can do together, one of which is a family dinner. Dinner is the only meal everyone can get to dine and chat about a long day. This is also an opportunity for you to de-stress and get to know your kids better. Family dinner is very beneficial to your kids as it makes them practice their social skills. Also, you can rightfully observe the way they eat, what they eat and why they don’t eat certain things.

A family dinner is also an avenue for you to begin conversations that would help you know your kids better. Nigerian artiste Timi Dakolo once shared an experience he had. According to him, he asked his children while having a meal in Dubai what they liked and didn’t like about him. He was surprised by the response he got. This is an example of the effect of a wholesome meal. However, you need to have the ability to ask the right questions, not uninspired, overwhelming or boring questions.

While doing so, ensure you’re engaged in the process, because everyone loves a good listener. Listen to their answers and, while you’re at it, enjoy dinner.

To get to know your kids better beyond the “how are yous”, here are fifteen questions you can ask your kids at dinner.

15 questions you need to ask your kids at dinner

15 Questions You Should Ask Your Kids

1. What was the funniest thing that happened today?
2. Did anyone push your buttons today?
3. What was the nicest thing you did for someone else?
4. Who made you smile today?
5. What’s something interesting you did today?
6. Who brought the best food in their lunch today? What was it?
7. Who did you sit with at lunch today?
8. What are all the things you’re grateful for today?
9. Who do you want to make friends with but haven’t yet? Why not?
10. What made you laugh recently?
11. What would you rate your day on a scale of 1 to 10? Why?
12. If one of your classmates could be the teacher for the day who would you want it to be? Why?
13. If you had the chance to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you teach the class?
14. Which area of your school is the most fun?
15. What do you want to do tomorrow?