When it comes to his favorite computer games or shows he likes, Jacob talks endlessly. However, when it comes to how his day was, what he learned at school, and whether something is bothering him, he clams up and gives me the whole “I don’t know” shrug. Consider he has a lot going on in his life, especially for a 7-year-old, I really needed to find a way to get him to engage more often with me about other topics.
Coming up with ideas was a little challenging, because he just wasn’t into talking about his day, especially when he got home from school. I started a nightly ritual in which I ask him about his favorite and least favorite part of the day, and at first that worked, but he’s already bored with it. He does, however, want me to ask him other questions. I was at a loss, though, trying to come up with interesting new topics to talk to him about that would get him to open up. Enter Super Duper Publications, and their astonishingly massive selection of educational products.
After browsing through their incredible selection for a good hour, I decided on two different products that looked like they would be a great way to get Jacob to talk to me about different things: Topic Talk and All About You, All About Me Fun Deck.
Topic Talk Conversation Card Game
Topic Talk Conversation Card Game is a great way to engage your child (or children, since it’s even better with more people) in a variety of conversations by making a fun game out of it. It comes in a great, sturdy tin and includes a timer and 205 different cards divided into Topic Cards and Conversation Cards.
Each player gets seven conversation cards, and the goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. Play begins by putting a topic card in the middle. The first player looks through their cards and decides which to use. They can either use Talk to contribute a comment, Question to ask a question related to the topic, Double Talk to make two comments, or Wild to do any of the above.
The Conversation Cards (75 in all) feature a variety of different types of questions, ranging from “Talk about your favorite song” to “talk about an action hero you really like.”
The thing I like best about the topics, aside from the variety, is the way they are phrased. “Talk about…” opens up the flow of conversation much better than “what is your favorite…?” I never realized how phrasing it that way could be so beneficial. When I ask Jake “who is your favorite action hero,” I get a one-word response: Spiderman. When asked to talk about his favorite action hero, though, it opens up a whole new world. He can tell me about Spiderman, about what he loves and how he wishes he could have superpowers like web-slinging from building to building. Changing that one word- what- to two words- talk about-made a huge difference.
All About You, All About Me Fun Deck
While the Topic Talk Conversation Card Game is great when there is more than one person to engage in conversation, the All About You, All About Me cards allow for a little bit more of a free-flow conversation. Now, in this case, the 56 cards are phrased in a “what” format, but the questions are engaging on their own.
One of the questions asked about a recent mistake that you may have made, and I discovered that Jacob was a little upset over an art project that he thought he goofed up. Had I not asked that question, I would never have known because he didn’t tell me about it during out daily “how was school” conversation.
A fun way to use the cards is to do an interview with your child using them. You can even do a video and look back a their answers ten years from now!
Both the Topic Talk game and the All About You, All About Me Fun Deck offer unique and fun ways to get your child to move beyond the typical “I don’t know” response and really open up about their thoughts on a variety of topics.
About Super Duper Publications
Super Duper Publications has such an enormous selection of games and educational tools to help your child in so many ways. Whether you’re trying to get your child to open up more like I am, working on motor skills, trying to increase their reading abilities, or just about anything else you can think of, you’ll find something helpful in their huge catalog. You can connect with Super Duper by liking the company on Facebook, following them on Twitter, subscribing on Youtube and checking out their Pinterest boards.
I would love the ring bling game for my kids!
Hi ya,
I haven’t got kids but these sound great! Getting kids to talk isn’t always the easiest thing to do. It makes you think though about how to word your questions. I should know this really as I am a nurse but you forget sometimes.
I found your blog as you left a comment on my blog a couple of weeks ago one Sharefest and I missed it. I don’t like not replying to peoples comments. I’m glad I stopped by though, your blog looks great 🙂
Kate
In addition to the Topic Talk cards you mentioned, I also like the Spanish articulation cards.
I really liked dice dude combo and Pirate Talk
Board Game
Dice Dude combo!
I like Ring Bling
love to find to new ways to entertain my energetic 1 1/2 year old! thanks for the giveaway
I like their iphone apps!
love the Sentence Fill-in Fun Deck
shopannies@yahoo.com
I love Chipper Chat! (the whole series of products!)
122 Fold and Say® Auditory & Story Comprehension this looks awesome for my kids!
I like the Ask & Answer “What” Card Game
I like 400 Webber Sign Language Cards
200 More Sight Words Super Fun Deck
I like their Social Skills Chipper Chat!
I love the Ring Bling Following Directions Game – Cute!
I would love to have the Difficult Situations Fun Deck to help give my daughter confidence that she would do the right thing
Compare & Contrast
Fun Deck® Android App
Webber Core Curriculum Vocabulary Cards Fun Sheets
VOCABULARY CHIPPER CHAT
I like the photo classifying flips
thank you
I love the Dice Dude Combo!
Wow! So many awesome products! I love that they have so many things geared towards Autistic children. I’d like quite a few items in the Autism category alone. First to catch my eye was the Social Inferences Fun Deck.
Appreciate this great giveaway 😀
I love the talking concept
Sentence Fill-in Fun Deck
I like the possessive nouns fun deck
I love the alphabet add-on fish set. Thanks for hosting!
Preschoolers Acquiring Language Skills
(PALS) and (PALS-2)
I’d buy the conversation cards. I really like those.
Youtube follower euphmansgurl
I’d like to try the Positive Pragmatic® Game Boards
dice dude combo i really like theses
I really like the idea of the topic talk game. It would allow everyone in our house the chance to be heard without others butting in and cutting them off. We would adapt the rules for question time too.
like the Dice Dude Combo
Twist Off Top and Push and “Pop” Top Dude
youtube id is brich222222
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
I like the 400 Webber Sign Language Cards
I think the kids would enjoy the Granny’s Candies® game.
Sentence Fill-in Fun Deck
Ring Bling
Following Directions
Game
I’d like the Social Skills Chipper Chat
The pirate talk board game looks fun
I love the Pirate Talk Board Game. Thanks! hstorm799{at}gmail{dot}com
I would like the All About You, All About Me Fun Deck.
The Dice Dude Combo
Webber Photo Phonology
Minimal Pair Cards
I like the Grammar Gumballs Board Game 🙂
I like the dice man duo
I would love the Webber Core Curriculum Vocabulary Cards
Dice Dude Combo looks interesting.
I like the 200 More Sight Words Super Fun Deck.
I like the Ring Bling game
greenday14fan@yahoo.com
like the What Does Miss Bee See?
Fun Deck Android App
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
i love the Pirate Talk Board Game
Ring Bling
Following Directions
Game