A conversation on the way home from childcare or a chat before bedtime – whichever it is, all of these exchanges are so important to the cognitive and social development of children.

During these formative early years, children’s brains are rapidly growing, and creating neural connections that shape their understanding of the world. By actively engaging in conversations with them, you’re contributing to their overall growth and learning and helping them to build strong emotional connections.

Here are some fun and engaging conversation starters you can try with your little ones:

What was your favourite part of your day today?

Asking your child about their favourite part of the day is a great way to start a conversation and get them to open up about how they are feeling.

What’s your favourite color, animal, or food?

These simple questions can be fun and engaging for young children, and they can help you get to know your child better. You can use their answers as a starting point for further discussion or as inspiration for activities or games.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

This question can really spark their imagination and creativity – you might be surprised by their answer, and it can lead to a fun conversation.

What do you think we should do this weekend?

Involving your child in planning activities for the weekend can help them feel included and valued. It can also give you ideas for family-friendly activities that you might not have thought of.

What’s your favourite game to play with your friends?

This question can help your child reflect on their social interactions and give you ideas for playdates and activities that your child might enjoy.

What’s your favourite book, film or TV show?

You can also use this as an opportunity to talk about the story or characters and encourage your child’s critical thinking skills.

Conversation skills are important for children’s development and wellbeing, being able to have conversations helps children make friends, be listened to, and ask for what they need. So let’s get talking!