Thanksgiving Dinner Conversation Cards – Free Printable

Does it feel like it’s been a long time since your family has had a truly great conversation that made a positive difference during the holiday season? Using these free printable conversation cards is a great way to get your family members talking around the dinner table at Thanksgiving! 

What Is Often Lacking at the Thanksgiving Table

The Thanksgiving holiday is filled with family time, good friends, and great food. However, sometimes I feel as though we can be missing the whole point. According to Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Presidential Thanksgiving address, 

“As we celebrate Thanksgiving…, we should reflect on the full meaning of this day as we enjoy the fellowship that is so much a part of the holiday festivities. Searching our hearts, we should ask what we can do as individuals to demonstrate our gratitude to God for all He has done. Such reflection can only add to the significance of this precious day of remembrance. Let us recommit ourselves to that devotion to God and family that has played such an important role in making this a great Nation, and which will be needed as a source of strength if we are to remain a great people.”

Often, before we know it, the Thanksgiving table gets cleared away, your family nurses their food comas watching some TV, and then everyone heads home. Suddenly it’s all over, and we don’t always get to have true quality time with our extended family. 

The Perfect Way to Prompt Meaningful Conversation

I am all about capturing our loved ones’ stories, and family dinners are the perfect opportunity. In the hustle and bustle of preparing and enjoying the feast, the day can get away from us. These printable conversation cards are a fun way to slow down and ensure that we have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Many of these are open-ended questions, asking about memories and traditions of the past. Some are simple ice-breakers, and others really prompt us to reflect on what we’re thankful for in the last year.

How to Prep the Conversation Starter Cards

1. Fill out the form below to download the free Thanksgiving Dinner Conversation Cards PDF for your personal use. 

1. Print the list of questions in color on white card stock, or whatever paper you have on hand, and cut them out. 
2. You can set one or two cards at each place setting, or put them all together in a jar or bowl.

Creative Ideas for Using The Conversation Cards During the Thanksgiving Meal

You can make a fun game of it, or not worry about rules and just go with the flow. I recommend starting early on during dinner, to give you plenty of time for meaningful discussion. If you have one at each place setting, you could choose someone to start. Have them read and answer the question, and then I would go around the table and have everyone answer before moving on to a different question at someone else’s plate. You could pass a jar of the questions around and do the same thing. You could make up a rule that you have to answer a question before you get dessert, whatever you want! There are plenty of questions, so if one isn’t sparking much conversation, go ahead and pick a different question. Be sure to have the older guests at the table answer any about Thanksgiving traditions or memories from the past. Younger kids should be able to answer many, if not all of the questions also.

A New Tradition for the Whole Family

These thought-provoking questions are an easy way to soak up some precious stories and memories from your immediate and extended family. Be sure to have the older guests at the table answer any questions about Thanksgiving traditions or memories from the past. Younger kids should be able to answer many, if not all of the questions also. I hope these conversation starters will make the Thanksgiving meal the best part of your day, if it isn’t already! Go ahead and get your copy below!

Want to Capture More of Your Family’s Stories?

If you really want to go big on capturing the life story of your relative or loved one, you can get a copy of my FREE ebook, The Ultimate Life Story Interview. With over 500 interview questions, this how-to guide will walk you through the whole process of recording your loved one’s life story. You can get your free copy here. You can also read my post on what to ask about in a life story interview here.

Want to Get Your Family Talking at the Table Anytime?

Here’s a game I really love that’s easy to keep on the table and use anytime during meals. It’s great for building parent-child relationships and bonding in general. Check it out here!

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