Table Conversations – TAOC

The Art of Children's Conversation

Trashy literature

I have recently found the games TAOC: The Art of Conversation and have bought three different packs:  The Art of Literary Conversation, The Art of Travel Conversation and the Art of Children’s Conversations (but don’t go thinking adults get off lightly here – the conversations are just as valid for adults!).  These ‘games’ are simply a box of questions that stimulate conversation.  To play the game properly there are all sorts of rules – which we haven’t followed.  The rules are to help teach the manners and issues of respect while having a conversation – I am doing that (teaching and guiding my children) without the rules – we simply sit down, discuss the question and go off on tangents.  If someone is inconsiderate it is pointed out as we would do in any other conversation.  That being said, knowing there are rules certainly helps me be a little more aware of those things as we talk around the dinner table.  I highly recommend these games.

Anyways… the kids love them and often ask for a ‘card’ – especially if conversation has been all about silly fun and we want a change of pace.  Such was the case last night.

The question was:

Can reading what could be termed ‘trash’ be a lead-in to literature?

It was good to hear the children’s opinions and how they shared those opinions (and how the others listened) but it suddenly became more of an opportunity for me to teach into than anything else.

This the bare bones of my conversation with my children:  I am reminded of how bank tellers train to pick up on counterfeit money – they never touch it – they only touch the real stuff, and that way when something false comes through they know the difference.  This is one reason why we don’t go for trashy literature – we give you good literature so when you come across something ‘trashy’ you will recognise it for what it is straight away and won’t waste your time and energy on it.  The same goes for movies we watch, friends we make, places we go – if we only surround ourselves with the good stuff, when something ‘trashy’ or out of sync with God’s word comes your way you will notice it, recognise it for what it is and walk away from it.  When you dabble in the trashy it becomes harder to hear the Holy Spirit prompting you to follow whatever is true, holy, right, pure, lovely and excellent.

I love dinner table conversations that touches on heart issues!