​Teachable moments can come from a wide variety of sources, including other parents. From time to time parents write blogs for us that we think you will find interesting, useful, or entertaining. Please enjoy this post from a fellow parent.

“How was your day?”

“Fine.”

“What did you do at school?”

“Huh?”

“What did you do at school?”

“I don’t know.”

“Who did you sit with at lunch?”

“What?”

“Who did you sit with at lunch?”

“Huh?”

“Who did you sit with at lunch!!!!????!!”

“I don’t know? Same people.”

Sound familiar? My kids LOVE to turn the TV on and have it as background noise while we eat. But, if these are the kind of answers I’m getting to my questions, its clearly not just background noise … I’m the background noise!

I don’t want to be background noise. That is not what the dinner table is about and that is certainly not how we treat our family members. So … NO TV AT DINNER. Gasp! No cell phones either. Double gasp! (The second gasp comes from my husband.) No distractions, just family, food and conversation.

We have been using the conversation starter questions for a few weeks now and having the kids pick out their questions makes it more exciting for them. It also gives us a glimpse into the things they worry about each day, what they think is funny and who they hang out with. There is nothing more valuable than a conversation with your child, and if the dinner table helps to do that, then the dinner table is a must. But, if the TV is causing a distraction … you’re doing it wrong.

Here are some other funs tips from Boys Town parenting expert Laura Buddenberg on how to make the dinner table more fun. I can tell you from experience… they work!