On most nights, I’m pretty good at gathering the whole family for dinner. But my three kids (ages 4, 6 and 9) all gobble down their food and go running away after just 15 minutes of together time! How can I make family time last even after their plates are cleaned?

Keep the conversation going! The best way to keep kids around the dinner table after the last bite is to keep them engaged and talking. Along with the meal, why not serve up some fun topics for discussion? Make them kid-friendly and fun, and they’ll be sure to linger a little longer. To keep it fun and fair, be sure to give everyone at the table equal time to share thoughts and ideas. Some ideas to spark discussion and sharing:

1. What famous person or storybook character would you most like to have dinner with and why?

2. What was your most memorable meal ever? Where was it and who were you with?

3. Which sound do you love the most? Why?

4. What place would you most like to visit? What would you do once you got there?

5. What is your favorite food in the whole world?

6. What is the most important or interesting thing that happened to you today?

Nicole Mydy, a mother of two, is a food science expert specializing in product development.