10 Conversation Suggestions for a First Date

The conversation may be the most crucial element to a first date.  Although there are dating options such as movies that minimize the opportunity for conversation on a date, it is very unlikely that you will go on a date that does not involve conversation.  Conversation is important because it allows you and your date to get to know each other better and to determine whether or not you have enough in common to continue dating.  Since conversation is so important on a first date, it is advisable to have a few ideas for conversations prepared ahead of time in case the conversation comes to a lull or there are awkward pauses in the conversation.

One great conversation suggestion for a first date is to ask your date questions about their family.  If there is one subject that invokes a passionate response from people it is their families.  No matter how irritating they can be at times, family is the one thing you can always count on when you need their help.  For this reason, most people can speak very passionately about their families.

A current event is another conversation topic that is useful on a first date.  Keeping up with the local and national news will give you something to talk about on a first date.  The only word of advice regarding this subject is that it could lead to a heated debate.  Exercise caution and try to avoid highly controversial issues and if the conversation becomes heated, be prepared to segue to another subject quickly. 

Talking about your career and asking your date about theirs is also a good idea for a first date conversation.  A person's career can say a lot about their personality so this is a great way to learn about each other.  For example an artist is likely to be creative while an engineer is apt to be more logical.  These simple pieces of information can help you to understand your date better.

Your childhood is also an interesting first date conversation topic.  Again, this can help you and your date to understand each other a little better.  Learning about someone's past often gives insight into which they are in the present.

Another popular first date conversation suggestion is sports.  If you and your date are both fans of a local sports team, you can take this opportunity to share your opinions of the team as well as your predictions for their success.  This is a fun and lighthearted topic that keeps the conversation going but doesn't require much thought.

Even religion can be a good first date conversation suggestion.  Although this is an emotionally charged issue, if you know that your faith is something you and your date share in common, it can be a great opportunity to express your views.  If you come from different religious backgrounds you can take the opportunity to learn about your date's religion.

Another fun topic of conversation for your first date is your high school prom.  For many reminiscing about this milestone is always amusing.  This topic is especially interesting if you graduated from high school a number of years ago.  Just thinking about the outdated styles and music of that time is a great way to pass the time on a first date.

Talking about your goals and asking you date about theirs is also an excellent first date conversation starter.  This gives you and your date a chance to share some of your dreams.  In doing this you are also likely to learn a little bit about your date. 

Another great conversation tip for a first date is to see a movie or play together at the start of your date.  This is perfect because you only have to engage in small talk on your way to the theater and then after the movie or play is over, you have a built in conversation starter.  You and your date can spend the rest of the night sharing your thoughts and opinions about the entertainment.

If you and your date both like to read, talking about books you have read is a great first date conversation topic.  Even if you haven't read the same books, you can take turns giving your opinions on some of the books you have read.  You can even offer to bring some of your favorite books along on the second date for your partner to borrow.

The conversation on a first date can be difficult to start and maintain.  The ideas in this article should all help you to get a conversation started and trying a few of the conversation ideas can keep the date from falling into a lull.  The key is to find clever segues from one topic to another.  For example if you are talking about your parents you can use an anecdotal reference about your parents to transition to talking about your childhood which you could then segue to a conversation about high school proms.