Many families value eating dinner together each night for the opportunity to stay connected with one another. Families that eat together tend to have kids who make healthier nutrition choices, do better in school and are less likely to try illegal drugs. Sustaining a family conversation can be difficult when young children or sullen teenagers are reluctant to participate, but certain topics can keep the conversation flowing.

Daily Activities
• A common family dinner topic is what each member did that day. Although reciting your daily activities may seem mundane, it allows other family members to understand what happens in your life. Ask kids "What different things did you do today?" rather than yes-or-no questions to elicit a longer response. Encourage each family member to share at least one interesting or funny anecdote to keep the conversation flowing.

News
• Discuss daily news events or popular culture. Think about news headlines relevant to your family, such as political debates, school news or other local occurrences. Talk about how you feel about a particular topic and solicit opinions or advice from your family members. Even young children have opinions about major news or political topics. Avoid passing judgment on your family members, which can cause them to shut down. Instead, foster an atmosphere that encourages open communication and constructive debates.

Future Plans
• Talk about your plans for the future. Whether it is what you plan to do next weekend or what your daughter wants to do after she graduates, discuss your future plans. Ask your son where he would go on his dream vacation or what careers he is considering. Creating a shared vision for the future helps families feel connected, maintaining a cohesive family unit.

Values and Beliefs
• Family dinners are an excellent opportunity to have candid conversations about your values and beliefs. Discuss your religious, moral, political and other beliefs with your family members. Explain why you find certain traits and values important. Allow your family to challenge your beliefs or values without becoming defensive. Family dinner conversations may also center around age-appropriate moral dilemmas, such as how to stand up to a bully, whether white lies are acceptable, whether your teenager is ready to date or what to do when your friends do something illegal.

Family History
• Children often love to hear old family stories, while adults enjoy reminiscing about the past. Tell your children a story from your childhood or teenage years. Describe the strange clothes or haircuts that you wore, the hardships you faced or funny adventures you had. If you know childhood stories that your kids' grandparents shared, relate those stories to your children. Creating a family history and regaling your family with old stories help them feel a sense of shared identity.