Conversation Starters

Do you ever struggle to start conversations with your child about their future? These conversation starters will help you to engage with your child in a way that will inspire their thinking and encourage them to explore different opportunities.

Try out the 5 discussion prompts below to generate useful conversations.

1. What’s your favourite subject at school? What do you like most about it? Why? Tell each other about your favourite school subjects and the ones you like/liked least...

One of the best things about starting secondary school is being able to study lots of exciting new subjects. Discuss some of the subjects that your child may not have studied before. Separate Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), Modern Foreign Languages, History, Computer Science, Geography, English Language and English Literature.

2. What jobs that you have seen or heard of do you think look or sound interesting? What is it that you like about them? If you work, talk about what you do day to day in your job role or talk about what a family member does in their job role.

3. What skill do you think an employer would value the most? Why? How could you show an employer that you have got this skill?

The skills and qualities that are most important for making a successful transition are being organised, thinking positively, confidence, resilience, adaptability, being brave/taking chances and independent thinking. What are your top three skills?

4. What is your dream job? Why? Do you think this is achievable? What interests you about it? Does anything put you off?

5. What would you like to know more about? Why would this information help you? Who could help us get the information we need?