Over the last little while I’ve collected various card games that are just perfect for conversation starters around the table.
My favourite is TAOC – The Art of Conversation. We have three sets – Children’s, Literature and Travel (there is also an adults set). A box of cards with questions to answer. The rules of the game encourage each person to take a turn to speak and ask questions thus generating conversation. We’ve gone down some great ‘rabbit trails’ with these games.
Rory’s Story Cubes – my kids have had a ball with this one. Nine cubes with different pictures on each face of the ‘dice’. Once you’ve rolled your dice you make up a story that matches the pictures. Nomi managed to tell the overview of the Old Testament which was pretty clever!
Teen Choices is a new one for us. Each card cites a dilema where a teen has to make a choice – what choice will they make. To my children most of these were no brainers – they know the ‘right’ answer, but do they know why this is the right answer. I am more inclined to raise the topic for conversation rather than asking them how they would respond. Looking at the questions from this perspective they give plenty of scope for conversation and instruction.
Choose your Clues, is also a new one to us, though the kids have loved it. It is very much like a quiz – each card describes a person, place or thing from the Bible using the old fashioned 20 questions. It is great to see that sometimes Daniel gets the clue way quicker than his older brother so it is very encouraging for all to play.
An example from “Teen Choices” – the scenario read like this: Your friends are allowed to choose to go to church or not. It sometimes seems unfair that your parents insist you attend as long as you are under their roof. Will you resist church attendance?
I personally feel this question will not get to the heart of the child. A parent will either know they are resisting or the child will keep it to themselves, and resist in their heart. How many kids would be honest? And if they were being honest their parents would already know about it!!
So I turned this question into a discussion which really did give me a glimpse into my children’s hearts – an understanding of where they were at. My question to them was “What do you think about church attendance? Is it important?”
We talked about –
What is church? Is church today like the Church of Acts? Why do we go to church? Is it important to go to church? How could church be better?
This was an open conversation that the children didn’t feel cornered by – they were able to share their beliefs and their struggles. A great family conversation!