The long-awaited Olympics have arrived for our household! We watched the opening ceremony together and discussed many of the Olympic traditions. The next morning, the kids were up early watching the first events – handball and shooting turned out to be some new fan favorites. But wait, is this just an excuse for more screen time? We still have math packets to finish and bucket list adventures to complete before school starts next month.

Then, my son asked me what event I would want to compete in and it turns out that watching the Olympics together can lead to some interesting family conversation and shared learning. So many new countries and sports to explore! 

Let’s Talk Olympics! 

Try out some of these conversation starters as you watch the games together. What can you learn about each other and the world?

• If you could win a gold medal in any event, which one would you choose?
• If you could set a world record doing anything, what would it be?
• Which country would you most like to visit?
• If our family had a flag, what colors and symbols would it have and why?
• If you could create a new Olympic sport, what would it be?
• What kind of skills do you think Olympic athletes need to develop beyond physical training?
• Olympic athletes train hard, but not everyone wins a medal. What would you do if you competed and didn’t win?