Help me create a non commital response cache for very enthusiastic younglings

[Barmbraic]

Ds is 9. His current obsessions include Minecraft, among us, rocket league and fifa 20something with real life versions of these in the playground at breaktime. We walk home from school which takes approx 25 minutes and i get full break downs of online and real life games. I don't want to crush him with my utter antipathy for computer games but I'm running out of non committal phrases to throw in to pretend I'm engaged with his monologues. My go to noises are:
Hmm
Yeah
Cool
Great
Excellent
Cool
Gee
Gee whizz
Golly
Wow
That's interesting

One of these days he's going to notice I'm phoning it in . Anyone have any other "honest I'm listening to you and care about what you're talking about" phrases I can borrow?

What's your favourite game right now to play?
What do you like most about x game?
Have you built anything cool lately? (Minecraft)
Any new DLCs (extra content) coming out soon?
Do you want to play a game of x with me later?
Do you prefer playing as an Imposter or Crewmate? (Among Us)

Sorry my suggestions are potentially even more boring, but intersperse these with some "yeah, cool, hmm"s and then let your mind wander I guess?

Adding to list...

Well, except the "will we play a game later?" one. He'll think I'm taking the piss

I occasionally repeat the last few words he has said, with an upward inflection and impressed tone - "...a 6 foot wing span!?".

Enthusiastic repetition ✅

I'm just relieved it's normal for little boys to bore on like this!

But tbh I don't let DS go on endlessly. He gets 5 minutes and then I will tell him we are going to talk about something else now, because people can get bored

To be fair, he's good if I change the subject but he's so enthusiastic, I don't mind (mostly) letting him waffle on for a bit. He probably feels the same when dh or i find a teachable moment in the dinner conversation

Wow, I clearly bore myself if I give myself a .

Ooh, sounds fun/interesting/cool.

Really?

How/why did THAT happen?

So what did you do next?

(I am a fan of the genetic catch-all question!)

Oh this rings bells! My 10 year old is currently fully into space and so I get lengthy monologues on the Kepler telescope, Perseverance, exo planets, the likelihood of life on various planets etc. I’m pleased he has an interest but it’s in no way a conversation.
Before this it was Greek mythology and before that, dinosaurs.

I was heading to school to pick up my youngest yesterday and two boys were walking in front of me, and one was monologuing about Minecraft to his friend.
Thing is, I like to encourage an interest but I have worked with these men before who just talk and talk and don’t know how to give and take and I wonder if they had a mum who never stopped them and said “do you know how conversations work?”

Generic catch all is absolutely what I'm going for NoSquirrels.

We have very sociable conversations at other times, Ozgirl so hopefully he'll be civilised in the real world.

Sounds like you loved/enjoyed that

I've him and his unbridled enthusiasm. The subject matter, however 😴

*I love.

I can't seem.to type tonight.

Among Us related -
Did anyone play a really good round lately and win without any sus? How did they do that?
Which colour is the most sus?
(For a real brainmelt moments) if they're all wearing space suits why do they have to turn the oxygen back on, surely they have an oxygen supply in the suit?
Why is there a leaf shute in space?

Excellent thanks. I am familiar with sus and the suits. Although I'll have to listen to make sure he hasn't changed game game chat mid breath.