The Idea: Put a basket in the center of your dinner table and each night pick a slip of paper out of the basket to start a conversation. If your children are different ages, consider color-coding the slips of paper and having each child pick a topic for their age group.
Suggestion: Have one parent moderate the discussion, summarizing what each child says and gently guiding the discussion. Be positive, encourage creativity, and brace yourself—kids say the darndest things! Consider writing down some of the answers in a journal, so that you can see how your children’s view on the world changes over time.
Ages 3-7
Name one way to love your friend and/or family more.
If you could help one person, who would it be?
What does it mean to be responsible?
Why are there poor people in the world?
What does it mean to be needy?
What does “community” mean to you?
Ages 8-12
If you were given $1 million to help others, what would you do with it?
Would you rather receive a gift you really wanted, or give your mother a gift she would absolutely treasure?
In 60 seconds, come up with as many words as you can to describe giving.
If you could invent something that would make life easier for people around the world, what would it do?
What do you think the word altruism means?
Ages 13-18
If you were Mayor, what is one thing you would fix about the city?
Name three issues that you care about deeply.
Why do you think some people are homeless?
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