Wishing you many happy conversations in the new year!
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If you have a child with ADHD, you may have no trouble at all getting them to talk to you. But this isn't always the case. Especially with teens, it can be a challenge to get them to open up.
Counselor and student life coordinator Rachel Eccles, LPCC-S, recommends a great everyday dinnertime conversation prompt that can help families open up and share more. She calls it 3 positive, 3 negative. (She previously shared it in a blog post about mental health.)
In this game, each person at the dinner table shares three positive things and three negative things about their day. Rachel emphasizes, “Three is a lot!”
She continues, "It really makes you reflect on your day. Everybody at the table is doing it and it’s very cathartic when everyone is sharing. Eventually you’ll get more than the usual 'Okay, my day was fine.' You might get some resistance at first, so keep at it."
Some days are less talkative than others, and that's okay. Make this game a routine though, and we bet you'll find yourselves in some worthwhile conversations.
Check out this short video about how you can share in others' happiness through intentional conversation.
Time for casual conversations is important. Springer 9th grade students enjoy a few minutes of downtime in their outdoor seating.
