[As you and your family enjoy your Thanksgiving feast of delicious turkey, tangy cranberries, and sugary sweet potatoes, what in the world will you talk about in between mouthwatering bites? How can you ensure that your guests, your children, your single next door neighbor feel calm, comfortable, and welcome in your family conversation? Furthermore, how can you help facilitate an engaging conversation that includes not only adults, but your younger guests too?

Believe it or not, you can subtly guide a healthy discussion about simple, relevant topics, gently encourage even the youngest family members to speak, spark creative ideas, and provide positive verbal feedback to your happy eaters. With little effort, you can foster a light yet academic environment that helps seniors, middle ages relatives, teenagers, and kindergartners develop critical thinking skills. You can help build your own daughter’s confidence regarding her participation in family conversation and offer specific follow up questions to generate critical thinking skills.

Possible Thanksgiving dinner topics:

• What celebrity or author would you go on a trip with? Why?
• What are you secretly proud of? Why?
• When are you most happiest? Why?

 “We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.” –  Buddha