*****Updated to announce that Kari from Karis Ramblings is the winner of the Table Topics cube*****
We used to go to family reunions when I was a kid. I don’t remember too terribly much about them other than hugs from perfect strangers and cheek pinching from old ladies who wore entirely too much rose-scented perfume. There was lots of singing around the campfire too. To this day I can still deliver a perfect rendition of a song my Uncle Clare introduced me to many moons ago. He called it Ticky Tocky and back then I drove my older cousins crazy insisting that we do it again and again. It was one of those action songs that, by the last verse, left everybody standing pigeon-toed, elbows back, knees together, chin down and tongues out with their boo-tays pithced out as far as they’d go. We’d sway those pitched out boo-tays back and forth while attempting to sing the words in spite of protruding tongues.
As a child I thought there was nothing better than seeing all the adults do that little number.
Of course now I realize that there was a reason Ticky Tocky was saved for the end of the night. I’m sure it had a little something to do with alcohol consumption and inhibitions and all that.
And while I certainly wouldn’t pass up a good rendition of Ticky Tocky if the mood struck, I’ve come across another form of clean family entertainment that involves nary a pitched butt.
Table Topics.
Table Topics are cubes that contain everything you need to inspire a thought-provoking, lighthearted, or downright hilarious conversation right at your own dinner table. Or around a campfire as the case may be.
Each cube is stocked with tons of conversation starters printed on cute little cards.
I first came across this product two years ago when we bought my in-laws a cube for Christmas. They had just moved to a new neighborhood (well, state really) and had talked about hosting dinners and game nights with their new neighbors. I thought that a cube full of ice breaker topics would be perfect for them.
Then, as often happens, I started wanting a cube of my own. As luck would have it, the folks at Table Topics sent me one to try out.
And wouldn’t you know I LOVE it.
We have the family cube and we have been using it at dinner. It’s a great way to get the kids to open up about things that I never even considered asking. Not because I didn’t want to know, but because it’s more common than not for dinner conversation to center around school and work and weekend plans. And there isn’t anything wrong with that, but it’s nice sometimes to learn more about the people we love most. Things we might not even have thought to ask.
I suppose you know what’s coming next right?
Uh-huh. I’m giving one away.
One lucky winner will receive the Family Gathering Edition of Table Topics. And hey, I’ll even throw in the lyrics to Ticky Tocky for your next reunion. Want to win? Just leave me a comment here (by Tuesday night at 9:00 Arizona time) telling me why your dinner time conversation could use a kick start. Oh, and be sure to click your way over to Table Topics to have a look around. Even if you don’t buy one for yourself, do keep your Christmas shopping list in mind. Table Topics has a cube for just about every occasion; I’m sure there is someone you know who’d love one!
Fun fun. We could really use Table Topics as a distractionary manuver. Our two oldest can fight over the color of green beans. STRESS ME OUT.
Sounds like fun.
Hey Darcie, like you, we have the same same same conversations each night about what we did today, what we’re doing tomorrow, what we’re doing on the weekend. I’d love to change it up a bit. PLUS, Henry could really use this type of thing as part of his language learning. To get him used to answering different types of questions, to get him to think about what we’re discussing and what he wants to say. This would be a really good tool for us!!! Thanks for offering it! And I’d love the lyrics to ticky tocky, too. Sounds like a hoot!
First of all ticky tocky sounds like a song that my Olivia learned in preschool. Except her teacher called it Tooty Tot. Does it go something like “Thumbs up. . .”?
Second of all the table conversation seems like such a fun thing and a great Christmas gift. I guess I need to start a Word document with all these neat things. Of course I would love to win and use it for dinner!
Well, last night at dinner, I had to put the family on “Silence” two different times because the arguing was driving me nuts. Terrible, but honest. So, yes, we could use this. (They couldn’t use it as a throwing weapon, could they?)
We’ve kind of ‘strayed’ from the dinner table. This might be a great opportunity to get everyone eating at the table again!
Thank you for the opportunity and the heads up!! Have a wonderful weekend!
I have 4 boys and as it is now, bodily functions just don’t appeal to me during dinner time! LOL I would love to use this at a family get together!
I have 3 boys and my husband is a man of few words, me being the complete opposite. Its hard starting conversations that don’t end in simple one word responses.
I saw your title & it reminded me of a song by Pete Seger, Little Boxes, talking about little houses that were made out of ticky-tocky…hmmm maybe it was ticky-tacky….anyway they all looked just the same. Guess yours is a different song! (but mine will be stuck in my head all day now!)
Anyway I think the Table Topics look like fun!
Sounds like a cool game! We could use it as a fun incentive for more family dinners. :)
This sounds like a lot of fun.
Love that idea! It will be awhile before we have real dinner conversations with our kids since conversing with a two year old sort of goes in its own direction, but it would be great for dinner parties and such.
love these I want one! I love the right or wrong box.
OOps…why conversation needs a kick start….know each other too well and tired of venting.
Just be careful what you say!! We used the game at Thanksgiving last year & Grandma’s question was something about the best thing to happen in your life. Her answer was when I was born. Didn’t go over so great with the other 3 children sitting at the table!! It took her awile to explain that one. No one has let her live it down and I am now referred to as “the favorite”. Can’t wait till next Thanksgiving to see what question she gets!!
hmmm…I can see many uses for this. Not only at home, but with the people I work with in the office or the family’s whose homes I work in. This got me excited. I am definitely going to look into them. Thanks Darcie!
I want it….I want it…. I have a house full of sensitive young ladies who want to dominate the dinner conversation. This could help. Maybe Carlos would finally get a turn to talk.
Pick Me. Pick Me! We could use these around here because mama talks way too much!!! =)
Here is where we are at with our “dinner conversation”..silence and the sounds of lots of crickets chirping (we actually live on a lane by the name of Cricket Hollow)…You see ..my four and five yr. old just went for their annual well visit at the pediatrician. Dr. Vicki brought the hammer down! We eat what Mommy cooks! We do not talk about what is on our plate! We don’t say we don’t like it! We don’t say we like it! We don’t talk about our food! We eat our food! And that goes for you too Mom and Dad! We don’t bargain! We don’t plead! We don’t talk about the food!!!! Silence…..that is where we are at with our “dinner conversation”. The babes are eating more now..but the next step is a new set of TABLE TOPICS. We want the cube! We want the cube! Love Ya, R
Our family could use this because we have trouble picking topics to start up conversation
jceko77@yahoo.com
This is a fun give-away!
Let’s see our dinner time conversation usually consists of the passing of information and the encouragement to not be picky about what’s for dinner.
It’s not that conversation is boring, it’s just that now that the kids are older The Mister and I have to be very selective about what we talk about since the kiddos are old enough to know what and who we are talking about. Kwim?
So a conversation starter would be great, and we could save our adult conversations for after they go to bed.
For my little family of 4 (and the kids are under 4years) we’d have to wait a little to use this. However, I’m one of 8 children and we try to get together every few months. It’s always a big party. I’d love to have some topics to help guide the conversation since we often have 20 random discussions at once! Thanks.
thundercloudgirl[AT]hotmail[DOT]com
I also thought it was funny to do over and over again! Hey I usually lurk around or read your on my google reader…but I gave you and award over at my blog…you can pick it up or not! I love your content and the way your write! Anyhow…enter me in the contest…that product looks awesome!