Dinner table
About 5 minutes
Any age
FOR A MAGICAL, MEMORABLE CHILDHOOD
Rose, Thorn, Bud
around the table, or at bedtime
At dinner, or in our house at bedtime, everyone takes a turn sharing three small things from their day. It takes about five minutes, and it becomes the part of the day everyone waits for.
HOW TO PLAY
Three small things, one turn each
01
Your rose – the highlight
Share the best part of your day.
The moment that made you smile, however small.
02
Your thorn – the challenge
Share something that was hard or didn’t go your way.
A worry, a wobble, a moment that stung.
03
Your bud – what’s growing
Share one thing you’re looking forward to.
End on the bud, every time. However the day went, you finish by looking forward together.
WHY IT WORKS
The talking takes care of itself
Ask a child how their day was and you’ll get “fine.” Give them a turn and three small prompts, and you’ll hear about the friend who was kind, the test that went sideways, the trip they can’t wait for.
It works because everyone gets the same three questions, so no one is put on the spot and no one is left out. The little ones copy the older ones. The thorns make room for the hard days. And ending on a bud means you always close on something hopeful.
Do it for a week and it’s a habit. Do it for a year and it’s just how day ends.
MAKE IT YOURS
Three small things, one turn each
For the little ones
Swap the words for feelings: a happy thing, a sad thing, and a wish for tomorrow.
In the car
The drive home from school is the perfect place to go around the seats.
Just the two of you
It works one-on-one at bedtime too. You share yours first so they know it’s safe to share theirs.
FREE PRINTABLE
Print it, pin it
A beautifully designed PDF sheet for your fridge or dinner table. Print it at home and you’re ready tonight.
