Conversation starter for 8 year olds

Conversation Starter for 8 Year olds.

Free Conversation Starter Questions for Your Kids.

Your kids will absolutely love this activity! This conversation starter is for 8 year olds (but honestly it can be used by almost all ages) . It's a great addition to any classroom. It's a fun activity that can even be done at the dinner table!

My favourite activities for kids are those that are easy and FREE! Which is why we've created this conversation starter activity for you guys.

Your kids are sure to get a good giggle out of it!

These worksheets are aimed at year 2 and 3 English students and come as a downloadable pdf - but again don't let me saying that put you off using for different aged children. Whether older or younger.

I've used this with all my kids and we all had so much fun!

How to play:

Cut out each item (laminate for durability - My favourite way to laminate things is to cut first, then laminate and then cut again. This way each individual item has a seal around it so it's pretty much water proof and tear proof).
Place each card on the table face down. No peeking!
Each player takes turns to pick one at random, then they need to talk about the chosen topic for 1 full minute without any long pauses or any umms and errrs. (Also without being too repetitive, a few repetitions are fine).
I found with my kids (and other kids I used this activity with), that they always begin by trying to talk as fast as they can because the are aware there is a timer on. Until they quickly run out of things to say!
Then they slow down and take their time. (Sometimes they try to play the system and go too slow so you need to make sure they keep a good balance).
This game doesn't have winners or losers. It's one of those games you play for fun and have a good laugh playing.🏆

Technique over speed

I honestly LOVE that this game teaches kids to take their time when talking, and not rush what they're saying. That way they are being much more mindful of what they're saying without the extra fluff. (As someone who has a tendency to speak far too fast, I wish I had something like this when I was younger)

They also need to add a lot of detail into each description so it really helps them get their thinking caps on.🧢

It's more about technique than knowledge so anyone can do it.

I usually try to encourage them to use their adjectives. So "soft, fluffy, bumpy" etc.

Once they get the hang of it I'd even get them to incorporate the verbs into it. so something like, "i can use this to help me jump" etc

You could get really creative and try to add metaphors or similes!

Need more conversation starters?

If you need more ways to get the conversation started with your kids, check out this Conversation starter. Tap here and download for heaps of fun.

Conversation starters add a social and interactive dimension to homeschooling. Making the learning journey more enjoyable, meaningful, and effective. These year 2 and 3 English worksheets (pdf) are a great addition to your homeschool.

This "Talk for 1 Minute" activity can offer so many benefits for your homeschooled child:

Communication Skills: This activity encourages children to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively. It can help them develop their ability to communicate more mindfully which I would say is an essential skill but can sometimes be overlooked!
Confidence Building: Speaking in front of others, even if it's just a parent or a small family audience, can boost a child's confidence. Regular practice with this activity can help them become more comfortable expressing themselves. After playing at home a few times (once they are confident with the activity) try inviting others to join. Whether that's their friends or some other homeschool families. You'll be surprised to see how they get on!

Critical Thinking: The fact that they only have one minute, challenges them to think on their feet. Over time they will learn to organise their thoughts quickly and prioritise information so that they can focus and stay on track without going off topic. They also learn to present key points effectively, promoting critical thinking skills.
Vocabulary and Language Development: Not being repetitive during the one-minute talk encourages children to use a diverse range of vocabulary and sentence structures. This expands their ability to express themselves eloquently. This is usually where I like to slowly, over time, encourage them to use adjectives/verbs etc.
Creativity and Imagination: The activity can be adapted to various subjects, allowing children to share their creative ideas and imaginative thoughts. So don't let it limit you to just these items on the worksheet! Get creative.
Time Management: Learning to speak within a specific time frame teaches kids the importance of time management. This is a valuable skill that can be applied to various aspects of their academic and personal lives. (I know a few homeschoolers who have said the flexibility of homeschooling can often make it difficult to teach time management. So it's great to teach these skills in a fun and interactive way).

Conversation starters Vs Creative writing

Conversation starters overlap very nicely with creative writing. So if you have a child who you feel is struggling or could do with some help when it comes to creative writing. Or just writing skills in general. Then I personally would recommend simple, fun games like this where they can get interactive but are still learning so many skills which will help them with their writing.

It's nice to change things up from time to time to keep things new and interesting. So doing this kind of activity for an English lesson can help bring a nice change to the usual work.

I like playing something like this in the car on long journeys. Or if I'm sat in the car with some kids while we wait for the other kids to finish up their classes.

Conversation starter for 8 year olds