Conversation Starters For Teenage Grandchildren

Right now my grandchildren are still young and far from being teenagers. The time will come soon enough, though, when we will get to pick their brains and have more meaningful conversations. Oh, I can't wait!! For now, I would simply like to get a leg up and prepare some ideas to have on hand (just in case my mind starts to go - you know how it is). If you would like to use any of these conversation starters with your own grandchild(ren), please feel free to help yourself. And, if you have any you'd like to suggest, please add them in the comments below. I'd love to hear them!

I'd like to suggest that some of these topics may be more appropriate for our grandchildren's parents to tackle. We should always ask the parents first if we want to talk about something deep. They may not mind, but they are the parents and we should show them that respect. I am including them anyway, though, because we have so many grandparents who are, in fact, parenting their grandchildren (if that is you, God bless you). I hope this will help us to at least start conversations that will build bonds of trust and love, and let our grandchildren know that we care and are always here for them!

Conversation Starters For Teenage Grandchildren

For The Casual Conversation

1. What are you learning in school?

2. Tell me about your favorite classes.

3. Tell me about your friends.

4. What school activities are you interested in?

5. What hobbies are you interested in?

6. What do you and (sibling's name if they have them) do on snow days?

7. What did you all (the family) do on your vacation?

8. Where was your favorite vacation? What made it the best?

9. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

10. If you could be anything, what would you be?

For A Deeper Conversation

1. What college, job, or career are you considering after you graduate?

2. What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

3. Are there any skills you would like to have? What are they?

4. If you could help others, what would you like to do?

5. How do you feel about your country? Politics?

6. How do you feel about the crisis at the border?

7. What do you enjoy most about being a teenager?

8. What do you not enjoy about being a teenager?

9. How can you make the world a better place?

10. What could we all do to make the world a better place?

For Those More Difficult Conversations

1. Have you ever gotten into a heated discussion in school?

2. What would you do if you saw someone being bullied?

3. Have you ever had to stand up for what you believed in?

4. Have you witnessed a toxic relationship among your friends?

5. How would you handle being invited somewhere you knew had inappropriate things going on?

6. How would you handle being offered drugs or alcohol?

7. Have you ever been offered drugs or alcohol?

8. Would you tell an authority if you saw someone in school with a gun? What if they were your friend?

9. How did it make you feel when you had to tell the authorities about that? Would you do it again?

10. What suggestions do you have to make school a safe place?

For A Spiritual Conversation

1. Do you believe in God?

2. Can you tell me who Jesus is?

3. What are some of your favorite Bible verses? Why are they your favorite?

4. Have you met people who don't believe in God?

5. Have you ever almost changed your feelings about God because of something someone said?

6. What do you think about being born again?

7. How do you think a Christian should act?

8. Why do you think some people don't want to believe what the Bible says?

9. Why do you think some Christians will turn away from God?

10. What are some ways you can help someone who is spiritually lost?

This is just a small amount of conversation starters to get the ball rolling. I will likely add to it over time. Please, like I said earlier, feel free to add your suggestions to the comments section below. I'd love to hear them!