Make Time to Listen, Take Time to Talk

The hardest part of connecting with your teen is getting the conversation started. Here are 15 minute conversation starters from mentalhealth.org.

• What’s your favorite color?

• What makes you angry?

• What makes you scared?

• Would you rather be rich or famous? Why?

• What makes you laugh?

• What’s your favorite sport? Why?

• Can you teach me how to (-------)?

• What’s your favorite vegetable?

• What’s your favorite fruit?

• What do you do during lunch/recess?

• What does success mean to you?

• What’s your favorite animal? Why?

• Why do you think some kids/adults dress different?

• What’s a skill you wish you had? Why?

• How important are someone’s looks? Why?

• Would you rather be smart or nice? Why?

• What do you remember about your first day at ___ (school, work..)?

• What do you love about _____ (school, work, sport…)?

• What do you like being age __? Male/Female?

• What would you change about your childhood? Teen years? Why?

• Have you ever laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe? What was so funny?

• What one room in your house would you change and how?

• What three things make a person popular at school/work?

• What was the best thing that happened to you today?

• If you could change one physical thing about yourself, what would it be?

• Where would you go, if you could travel anywhere in the world?

• What’s the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

• If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

• Would you rather be good looking, smart, or athletic? Why?

• Describe the perfect girl/boyfriend-mother/father. Why?

• Do you like being challenged? How?

• Would you rather be rich or happy? Explain.

• Do you learn more when you win or when you lose?

• Tell me about your first love.

• What other cultures interest you? Why?

• What disease are you most afraid of?

• Have you ever been lied to? How did you feel?

• How can we stop gun related violence?

• Do you feel safe at school/work? Explain.

• Who do you think has had a tough life? Why?

• Whose life do you envy? Why?

• What do you think about marriage? Having children?

• Are you affected by violent TV shows and movies? How?

• What one thing would you do to make the world more peaceful?

• If you could share anything with your best friend, what would it be?

• If you saw your friend steal some money, what would you do?

• If you could do one thing to make the earth better, what would it be?

• If you get mad at someone at school/work, what do you do?

• If another student/worker threatened you physically, how would you react? Explain.

• If you saw a student/worker pull a knife and threaten someone, what would you do?

• Which of the following is the most important quality in a person? Good looks, sense of humor, loyalty, talent? Why?

• If you had to lose one of your senses, which would it be? Why?

• If you could write a book, what kind of book would it be?

• If you could go back in time and live in any other era, what would it be? Why?

• If you were with kids/adults who were .smoking, drinking, taking drugs.. what would you do?

• Has anyone ever really hurt your feelings by calling you a name? How did you respond?

• If you could sit down with the most powerful person I the world and give that person advice, what would it be?