This post is about what to talk about with kids when you run out of topics or questions. It is part of the series Conversation ideas for grandparents, relatives & friends on my blog Mom and Ideas.
I’m rarely out of things to talk about with my child 😉
She’s inherited the same talkative genes—at least, I like to believe that being chatty can be passed down!
But I’ve noticed something interesting.
Many grandparents, relatives and friends struggle to find conversation topics with kids, especially when they don’t meet often or only connect over phone calls and video chats. For example, when my child in on a video call with a few elderly relatives, there are a lot of pauses when they don’t know what else to talk about and given the attention span of little ones, she runs away elsewhere. Often, I have to prompt something they could talk about. And honestly, that’s completely okay. Not everyone grows up around children or knows how to keep them engaged or is an extrovert. So conversations often become limited to:
- How was school?
- Who are your friends?
- What did you eat today?
- What did you do today?
While these questions come from love, like my kid, I am sure many kids get bored of hearing the same questions and repeating the same answers—especially curious, imaginative ones.
If you’ve ever wondered “What else can I talk about with a child?”, here’s a simple, fun idea that works beautifully. If you are a mom/dad who wants to make conversations smooth between your parents/relatives/close friends and your child, you might want to share this post with them.
A Conversation Topic Kids Actually Enjoy: Cities! Talking about cities is surprisingly engaging for kids—and it works across ages.
For younger kids:
- Ask: “Which city names do you know?”
- Turn it into a guessing game: “Is this city near the sea or the mountains?”
- Share a story about your city or an interesting city you visited
- Use maps or globes during video calls for visual fun
For slightly older kids:
- Ask which cities they’ve visited or about the city they visited in their recent trip or a city that they want to visit
- Share fun stories from:
- The city you were born in
- Where you grew up
- A memorable place you travelled to
- Talk about food, animals, weather, festivals or famous landmarks from that city
Kids love stories—especially real ones from people they love. Share interesting moments or fun incidents from your travels with them.
Turn It Into a Game: The City Names Game
This has become a favourite during our road trips!
How it works:
- One person says a city name
- The next person says another city starting with the last letter of the previous city
- Example: Delhi → Indore → Edinburgh → Hong Kong → …
It’s like Antakshari, but with cities—and kids absolutely love it.
This game:
- Improves memory
- Builds geography awareness
- Keeps conversations flowing naturally
And best of all, it works perfectly on video calls and phone calls.
Why These Conversations Matter?
When adults move beyond routine questions, kids feel:
- Heard
- Respected
- Excited to talk
And relationships deepen—whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or family friend.
Sometimes, all it takes is one fresh topic to turn an awkward call or a long blank pause into a joyful connection. Want more simple conversation topics and ice breakers like this? Stay tuned for more ideas in my series Conversation ideas for grandparents, relatives & friends on the blog Mom and Ideas.
It is perfect for you if you’re someone who:
- Feels awkward or clueless while talking to kids
- Wants to connect better with children in your family and friends’ circle
- Loves practical, no-pressure parenting & communication ideas
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