Want to Better Connect with Your Kid? Try These Gaming Conversation Starters!
Every generation of kids is different. They have their own particular trends, fashions, and slang. And while video games have been popular for many years, your child’s style of gaming likely looks different than yours did, you know, back in the day. 😉
But no matter your own gaming experience or history, it’s worth the effort to uncover your child’s favorite ways to play. Whether they love Roblox, Minecraft, or Fortnite, learning their gaming style and preferences can kickstart all kinds of new conversations.
Need a little help getting the chat started? Check out our favorite gaming conversation starters below!
6 Video Game Conversation Starters
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. But first, a quick tip:
Don’t push. If your kid isn’t into answering your questions, that’s normal (especially for that pre-teen and up crowd). Just you asking is opening the door for later conversations. Let them know you’re interested in learning more about their world, and they’ll eventually come around.
Now, let’s get to it!
1. What are you playing right now?
This simple question is a great way to get started. Do you know your child’s favorite games? Even if you do, they’re likely changing all the time.
Did you know there are millions of games just on Roblox? Ask them about their favorites — the ones they keep coming back to or new ones they just discovered. Then let the conversation flow.
2. Have you played this game?
If they’re watching a favorite YouTube gamer, or if you’ve heard about a game from a fellow parent, ask them what they think about it. Have they played it? Do they want to? Is the YouTuber helping them with their strategy? Or maybe sharing secrets, easter eggs, or lore? Find out!
3. How do you play this game?
Your kid is talking to you about a new game, but it all just sounds like gobbledy gook. What does it all mean? Invite them to sit beside you and give you a quick tutorial.
They can show you how to get started, tell you about all the different monsters and what they do, or demonstrate how to level up. Even better, sign up for Roblox yourself and let them lead you around the map. The best way to learn is to do it yourself.
4. What’s your next gaming goal?
Ok — so don’t phrase it exactly like this. But if they’re already talking to you about a game, you’ll likely hear about achievements they’ve already earned or missions they’ve completed. And when they share that info with you, ask them “what’s next?”.
Gamers are almost always working towards something — whether it’s unlocking a new character, beating the game, or earning a new reward. So, ask them about their plans and how they intend to achieve them. You may be surprised by just how goal-oriented your gaming kiddo can be.
5. Who made this game?
This may feel like an odd question, but many kids pay more attention than you’d think to game developers. Especially on platforms like Roblox, knowing the developer can help you find the actual game you’re looking for (there are lots and lots of copies). It’s also a good way to discover new, quality games or keep up with updates.
Once you discover a few of their favorites, find out what they like about them. Is it their gameplay style? Or do all of their games have great stories? Do they follow their favorite developers on social media?
Kids can get deep into the weeds when it comes to gaming. Dive down there with them on occasion and you’re guaranteed to learn tons of new info.
6. What’s your favorite game to play with friends?
Video games are an ever-growing social experience — especially on platforms like Roblox. If you want to know who your child is playing with, but don’t want to pry, this is a great way to start the conversation.
Once you learn more about their fave social games, you can more easily discover who they play with and how everyone interacts during the game. Roblox is full of role-playing games, and the amount of imagination and cooperation that goes into these experiences is amazing. It’s open-ended play in an online world, and it’s fascinating to watch
When a child shares their favorite game – they are sharing their learning.
Shifting Your Gaming Mindset
As parents, we all want to keep a pulse on what our children are up to. It’s our job to keep them safe and protected. And technology can feel like a giant black hole of scary unknowns.
Even if you’re all up-to-date and cool with tech, you may still wrestle with the feeling that video games are just a waste of time. A silly distraction from what’s actually important.
But you can’t approach your child and these conversation starters with that mindset. It’s important to ask these questions from a place of curiosity. You have to show that you are truly interested in their passions and pastimes — not just trying to sneak a disruptive peek into their business.
So, before you ask the questions above, make sure you’re approaching them with an open mind. And maybe take some time to discover the value video games carry before jumping into a conversation. There’s actually a lot of learning to be found in quality video games.
And Kinjo’s here to help you and your child find the best ones for fun and learning.
How Kinjo Helps You Connect with Your Gamer
If Roblox feels overwhelming to monitor and stay on top of, encourage your child to start their gaming with the Kinjo app.
Roblox has millions and millions of games. But Kinjo is always sifting through them to find the best quality Roblox games for learning. And the best part — these are often the most fun ones to play too!
Here’s how Kinjo can help your family navigate screen time while building stronger connections (it really is possible!).
1. Fun Games and Rewards for your Kiddo
The Kinjo app is designed to reward your child for making better gaming choices. We analyze games to find the ones with the most challenge. Because more challenge = better learning.
And the more often they choose these better, Kinjo-recommended games, the more rewards they can earn, like Robux!
2. Peace of Mind for You
We want you to feel good about your child’s screen time. And video games can translate into loads of learning. But don’t worry — we don’t reward your child for playing more. We only look at what percentage of their time is spent in Kinjo-recommended games, and their rewards are based on quality, not quantity.
3. Better Connection with Parent Insights
Want to discover your child’s favorite games, but you’re being met with silence? Or are you still struggling to see how video games can translate into learning and real-world skills? Then you need Kinjo’s Weekly Parent Insights.
Our Insights email hits your inbox once a week and includes all the gaming details you need to ease the screen time tension. Learn more about the Parent Insights email and subscribe here.
Level Up Their Gaming (and your understanding) with Kinjo!
The world of gaming can feel daunting. Yes, most of us grew up around technology. And many of us have played video games. But things move fast and you’ve got a lot to keep up with already.
If you are looking to stay up to date with your child’s gaming habits (while also encouraging better ones), Kinjo’s here to help!
Helping your child navigate technology for all of its good — while avoiding the bad — is a skill they’ll need for years to come. And you don’t have to do it alone. Give your child more autonomy to explore and learn from online worlds today.
