Conversation Starters and Explorations

Here are some topics and suggestions to help you spark meaningful exchanges with your kids.

8 Ways to Enjoy Humor with Your Kids

You can support your child's sense of humor by creating a playful environment in your home. Experimenting with words, exchanging... Read more

Talking to Your Kids About Manners—At the Table and Beyond

Kids aren't born knowing how to behave at the dinner table. Talking about dining etiquette can be a fun way... Read more

It’s in the Mail! Explore the Joys of Exchanging Letters

Kids love receiving and sending letters by mail. Besides encouraging reading and writing, posting letters provides children with insight into... Read more

The Play’s the Thing! Kids Creating Plays

Put together a group of kids and place parents (aka enthusiastic potential audience) in the next room—and what do you... Read more

7 Family Games to Play Anywhere!

Remember those fun, informal games that parents and kids have enjoyed for generations—no batteries or equipment required? They're perfect this... Read more

Talk-Friendly Settings

Some of the most meaningful conversations between parents and kids occur when the two parties aren't facing each other. Walking,... Read more

Conversations for the Start of the School Year

Your children are back in school, and you want to hear all about it. What is the teacher like? Has... Read more

Using Highlights and Highlights High Five to Help You Share Music with Your Kids

Music is a wonderful way for different generations to connect and have fun. Everybody, from the youngest to the oldest... Read more

Summer Explorations

The summer is a great time to explore some of the special attractions in your community--those farms, museums, historic sites,... Read more

How to Get a Conversation Started and Keep It Going

Does a dialogue with your child sometimes sound like a monologue? If you say, "What happened at school today?" does... Read more

Ways of Saying Thanks

We all want our kids to be able to express their gratitude, and there are many ways of saying thanks.... Read more

Putting Spring in Your Step

April is a great month for kids and parents to observe nature "spring" into action. With everyone so busy, it's... Read more

Make the Most of Museum Visits

When winter weather has you looking for interesting indoor activities, consider taking a trip together to a local museum. Talk... Read more

National Teacher Appreciation Day-- May 8

On May 8, millions of schoolchildren and parents across the country will be honoring their teachers. This would be a... Read more

Presidents’ Day Dilemma

The largest voter turnout in any U.S. presidential election over the past 75 years was in 1960, when 62.8%, or... Read more

Kids and Privacy

In an era when privacy is in short supply, how do we help kids understand that not everything needs to... Read more

What Field Trip Would Your Child Like Best?

On HighlightsKids.com, we asked kids to select the field trip they'd like most. Here are the choices: Visiting the Baseball... Read more

Learning How to Interview One Another: An Activity Suggestion from Highlights®

In the February 2007 issue of Highlights, there's an activity called "Produce Your Own Radio Show" (page 11). Suggestions include... Read more