How do you get conversations started in your family?
Getting kids to talk is one of the best things we can do for their mental health – and for ours. Yet starting meaningful conversations isn’t always easy. That’s why I love tools and tricks to help get conversations rolling.
One of my favorites has always been “High-Low-Buffalo.” I didn’t come up with this – I read it on a mom blog and even wrote about it briefly years ago. It’s cute, fun and it works to get families talking.
With High-Low-Buffalo, each family member takes a turn sharing a high moment from their day or week, followed by a low moment and then a wild card. The “Buffalo” can be something weird that happened, something funny or something you did that was brave or scary. It can be anything you want it to be.
For example, this week my high was a surprise dinner date with my hubby, my low was two missed mornings at the gym (don’t ask!) and my Buffalo was taking on new responsibilities at work.
I’ve used this conversation starter for so long that many of Z’s friends have participated with us over the years. We’ve had one of Z’s friends come over for dinner and say, rolling her eyes, “Oh no, does this mean we have to do High-Low-Buffalo?”
Even now that Z is a teenager, I still engage Z and her friends in a quick round of High-Low-Buffalo over dinner or when driving in the car. It works equally well with little kids and teens alike… and although they like to make fun of me for it, I think they secretly enjoy doing it, too.
It feels good to talk about your day and hear about others’ experiences. It also feels good to have a familiar family routine or ritual.
When you initiate family conversations and routines like High-Low-Buffalo, kids know they will always get a turn to share their voice and stories. They will always get a turn to be heard and listened to.
Bonus points if you do a family round of High-Low-Buffalo while you’re staring down a real, live American bison, as we did while driving through the Bearizona wildlife park in Arizona a few years back.
Also, bonus points if you do High-Low-Buffalo while on a roadtrip to Buffalo, NY. We’ve done that as a family, too!
What are your favorite family conversation starters? I’d love to hear in the comments below or over on Facebook or Instagram.
