2 quick and easy DIY projects to get the whole family talking at the table! A conversation starter jar with over 101 questions and free printable mealtime placemats!
A national survey found that less than one-third of American families eat dinner together most nights, but when asked, the great majority of people say they believe that family dinner is one of the most important ways to maintain family communication. {According to William J. Doherty Ph.D., The Intentional Family}
Family dinner time IS important and the MOST important part is the talkingand bonding that happens around the dinner table! Today we have 2 amazing projects to add to your dinner table that will ensure EVERY family dinner together is memorable!
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“So . . . how was your day?”
“Fine.”
Sound familiar? Fine? Just fine? Doesn’t make for an interesting conversation now does it? Family dinner time is all about connecting. It is a time in the day to gather around the table and really talk to one another. BUT sometimes those family bonding conversations need a little kickstart! Here is one super fun way to get the conversation {and laugher} rolling at your next family meal!
This project includes 101 different conversation prompts. Prompts range from, “If you could change your name – what would you change it to & why?” all the way to “Tell the person to your left something you love about them” Fun right? With 101 different prompts – it is guaranteed you won’t run out of things to talk about for a long long time!
All the questions were taken by the lovely Courtney at All Things Bright & Beautiful and turned into these adorable printables! She is seriously so talented and can create anything you can imagine! After downloading her work head on over to her site to say thanks and see what else she has!
To create your own Table Topics jar, cut out the question prompts. To make my jar look more appealing {it will be on my table after all!} I took each question and rolled them around a mini glue stick to form a unique little scrolls. I also made sure to put the colored side to the outside of the circle so my jar will be extra colorful!
Put your question prompts into a glass jar. I got mine at Hobby Lobby when they had a 50% sale. If they aren’t having a sale you will definitely want to use a 40% off coupon. If you have a smartphone just download the app, show it to them at the register & BAM 40% off! I love that! They had a LOT of styles to choose from.
When your questions are all in your jar, you can add the adorable label to the outside. Because it was on glass I used a hot glue gun to attach my label to the jar. Also a little tip – start at the center circle and do section by section. This will help to make sure it is straight AND the glue will stick to the glass better!
Now the fun part! Put your new jar on the table at meal time and take turns pulling a question out. You can either choose one question and have everyone at the table answer OR have each person choose a different question. We have had SO much fun doing this at mealtime – this will be one of our most memorable family traditions for sure!
This jar was so cute and so easy to make that I made a few more jars for gifts! I think that this is the PERFECT gift idea! It is something that ANY family could benefit from and is thoughtful too!
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The Dinner Conversation Jar is just ONE great way to get the family talking. Here is one more way to not only get your kiddos talking at the table BUT ALSO keep them occupied while you prepare dinner!
“When is dinner going to be ready?”
Whine. Whimper. Pout.
Sound familiar? Making family dinner is no easy task with hungry little ones tugging at your shirt requiring attention. The mealtime placemat is a GREAT way to not only keep the kiddos occupied while you cook, but it also becomes something to talk about over dinner – a win win!
To make your own dinnertime placemats download the darling printable created by Courtney {All Things Bright & Beautiful} She is seriously SO talented. When I have kids of my own, I think this would be so fun to have her personalize placemats with my kid’s names on it. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Courtney created these in 2 different sizes for you, too! There is an 8.5 x 11 version so you can print from your home computer and an 11×17 version which is the perfect size for a placemat!
And there you have it! 2 simple DIY projects to add to your dinner table! The Dinner Conversation Jar is just ONE great way to get the family talking. The creative placemats are ONE more way to not only get your kiddos talking at the table BUT ALSO keep them occupied while you prepare dinner! I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!
If you go to your local print store to have them make the copies, you can have them print the two sides back to back & then laminate it. I recommend the harder lamination since this will hopefully be used again and again!
Not only do these darling placemats have games like boxes & tic tac toe, but they have sections where the kids can write or draw the things that happened in their day. This is the PERFECT moment to have the kids show their pictures to you over dinner and tell you about their favorite part of the day.
Next time while you are making dinner just whip these placemats out, hand your kids some dry erase markers and you are set!
And there you have it!
2 simple DIY projects to add to your dinner table! I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!
Chatting with your kids about their fears, hopes, dreams, ideas, & memories is the best way to get into that little head of theirs, and get closer to them! We’ve created 300 conversation topics of fun family questions & prompts to get you talking together.
Printables Designed By Courtney @ All Things Bright and Beautiful Exclusively For The Dating Divas
Sarina
I met my husband, in a beginning ballroom dance class at the age of 15. He was my first crush, my first date, and twelve years (to the day) later we married. Together we enjoy traveling the world, and, of course, going on creative dates! I am a former theatre teacher who now stays at home with a spunky little boy. I love dancing, hosting parties, photography, organizing & chocolate!
This post here is the updated version of our original “Hot Topics” post. It includes the same question content as the original in this newer, updated version. Was there something specific you were looking for?
Hi, the link for the Hot Topics is no longer available. Can you help me out with this?
This post here is the updated version of our original “Hot Topics” post. It includes the same question content as the original in this newer, updated version. Was there something specific you were looking for?
Thank you for the printables! They are beautiful and great for kids 🙂
You are so welcome! We love them here at our house.