Conversation Starters

Get to know the children on your caseload and begin to establish a trusting relationship. Use this form to generate ideas for conversation topics. An electronic version of this form is posted on the recruiter login section of the Foundation’swebsite.

Date: ______

Interviewer’s name: ______

Location of interview: ______

Child’s name: ______

Sample interview questions (if a child is non-verbal, his or her foster parent may be able to answer).

  • If you had three wishes, what would they be?
  • Tell me something about yourself.
  • What is one word that would tell me something about you?
  • What is your favorite food?
  • What makes you laugh?
  • What do you do for fun?
  • What do you do when you are with your friends?
  • If you could visit any place on earth, where would you go? Why?
  • What do you like about school?
  • Which is your favorite class at school? Why?
  • Do you like to cook?What have you made?
  • Do you like to watch TV? What is your favorite show?
  • Do you like music? What is your favorite song?
  • What activities do you participate in at school (choirs, plays, clubs)?
  • Do you enjoy playing sports?If so, which ones?
  • What are your favorite sports teams or athletes?
  • What chores do you help with around the house?
  • What’s your favorite thing to do outdoors?
  • What do you do during vacations from school?
  • What do you like to do on a rainy day?
  • What school trips or vacations have you taken? Which was your favorite?
  • What holidays do you like to celebrate? What do you do for them?
  • What are you most proud of? What is one thing you work very hard to do? (For example: A cartwheel?Not fighting with your sister?)
  • Do you have a best friend? What do you like about him or her?
  • Is there a subject in school that you do not like?
  • What do you want to be when you grow up?
  • Who helps you when you have a problem?
  • What could a person learn about you by looking at your room?
  • What would you like people to know about you?
  • What is your favorite part about where you are living right now? What is your least favorite part?
  • What are some things you think you might want in a family? (For example, would they have pets? Would they have other children? What would they do for fun?)

Conversation Starters

Rev. 8/13