250 Questions for Kids: Get to Know Them Better

Children are information sponges. They crave knowledge, which is why they bombard you with endless questions. Almost every parent knows the drill; you answer one query, and five more pop up in its place.

But have you ever tried turning the tables?

Taking on the role of the investigator changes the dynamic. Asking pertinent questions expands their worldview, sparks curiosity, and encourages them to problem-solve.

More importantly, it builds a bridge. The information you gather from their answers helps you understand their inner world, allowing you to make better decisions for them.

We gathered a list of 250 questions to help you start meaningful conversations with your child.

Would You Rather Questions for Kids

“Would you rather” questions are the ultimate icebreaker for children of any age. For toddlers, keep it focused on tangible things like toys or food. With older children, you can dig deeper into dreams, skills, and aspirations.

Here are some fun ideas to get you started:

• Would you rather slide down a slide or swing on a swing?
• Would you rather play football or tennis?
• Would you rather be smart or hilarious?
• Would you rather ride a horse or an elephant?
• Would you rather have oatmeal for breakfast or lunch?
• Would you rather be six years older or three years younger?
• Would you rather be a painter or a sculptor?
• Would you rather be a good singer or a fantastic guitar player?
• Would you rather go to a water park or an amusement park?
• Would you rather be a superhero or a wizard?
• Would you rather sit with a group in school or sit alone?
• Would you rather watch fireworks or go to a circus performance?
• Would you rather play in the rain or snow?
• Would you rather brush your teeth with toothpaste or water?
• Would you rather be a captain of a ship or a pilot of an airplane?
• Would you rather be a famous writer or a famous performer?
• Would you rather create your own holiday or a new sport?
• Would you rather have a tall neck like a giraffe or a long nose like an elephant?
• Would you rather crawl like a crab or walk on all fours?
• Would you rather see things up close or far away?
• Would you rather be a fast swimmer or a fast runner?
• Would you rather have long hair like Rapunzel or be blue like Smurfette?
• Would you rather be able to create webs like Spider-Man or have heat vision like Superman?
• Would you rather sail the seas or climb a mountain?
• Would you rather have the ability to jump like a frog or make loud sounds like an elephant?
• Would you rather look after a pet or a baby?
• Would you rather be able to read people’s minds or find all your lost stuff?
• Would you rather spend your day in a zoo or a garden full of trees and flowers?
• Would you rather ride a scooter or a bike?
• Would you rather work alone on school projects or work with your friends?
• Would you rather know sign language or be an expert on reading lips?
• Would you rather be able to speak four languages fluently or talk every language on Earth with a silly accent?
• Would you rather understand what animals say or have them understand what you say?
• Would you rather eat something sweet or sour?
• Would you rather take the best pictures or be the most amazing model?
• Would you rather stay indoors for the rest of the day or spend the day outside in the garden?

Funny Questions to Ask Kids

Laughter connects us instantly. Kids love being silly, and asking a funny question can brighten a bad mood or diffuse a tantrum. These questions are low-pressure conversation starters that help shy children open up before you move on to more serious topics.

• What would you do if you could be invisible for one day only?
• Would you rather be as small as an ant or as tall as a giant?
• If you could visit one planet in the universe, which one would it be?
• Do unicorns fart rainbows?
• What’s the worst name you’ve ever heard someone call their dog?
• How old do you think mommy/daddy is?
• Do you want boogers or spaghetti for dinner?
• What’s the silliest thing you can think of?
• If you had your own restaurant, would you rather serve gross food or delicious food?
• Would you rather not shower ever again but have to wear wet clothes or shower every day?
• What makes you feel like dancing?
• If you could rename fruits, what would you call them?
• What’s the grossest thing you have ever seen?
• Would you rather have jiggly legs for a day or the biggest arm muscles for a week?
• If you were a book, what would your title be?
• If you found a genie, what would you wish for?
• If you could only celebrate one holiday for the next ten years, what would it be?
• If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?
• How many stars exploded in the galaxy today?
• Who makes the smelliest farts?
• What does a fox say?
• If you could become any cartoon character for one day, who would you be?
• If you had a secret hideout, where would it be, and what would you keep inside it?
• What’s the funniest sound you’ve ever heard?
• If you could go back in time, where would you travel to?
• If you were a fart, would you prefer to be silent but deadly or loud and proud?
• If you were given the power to get rid of one thing in the world, what would you choose?
• What’s the best combination of weird foods you have ever tried, and what were they?
• If you could invent something, what would it be?
• Would you rather swap places with mom or dad for a day?
• Do you prefer cats, dogs, or fluffy chinchillas?
• Would you rather break something really expensive and make mom and dad angry or break something worthless that you’d miss?
• If you could meet any historical person, who would that be?
• What’s your favorite method of laughing?
• Can you describe colors without mentioning their names?
• Why do you go to sleep at night and not in the morning?
• Would you get angry if I stole your candy?
• If you had a parrot, what would you teach it to say?

Questions to Ask Your Kids About School

“How was school?” usually gets a one-word answer: “Fine.” We need to do better. Specific questions help you discover what they enjoy, what subjects challenge them, and how they navigate social situations.

It’s never too early to start this habit. Use these prompts for elementary students and even toddlers in preschool.

• What or who made you smile today?
• What book did your teacher read for the class today?
• What was your favorite part of your school day?
• Did you help anyone in class today?
• Did someone make you laugh?
• Who sat next to you at lunch?
• Did anyone show an example of unkindness? What did you do?
• What examples of kindness did you see today?
• Did anyone say something that surprised you?
• Give your day a rating of one to ten, why did you choose that number?
• What challenged you today?
• Did anyone make you laugh today?
• Did someone or something inspire you today?
• What new things did you learn?
• Did someone get in trouble today? What happened?
• What was your favorite lunch/snack item today?
• Do all the class play together at recess?
• What was the worst part of your day?
• How were you brave today?
• What questions did you ask your teacher today?
• What are you reading in class?
• What was the most challenging rule you had to follow?
• If you could go back and change one thing about today, what would that be?
• What made you proud today?
• If you could sit anywhere in class, where would that be?
• What’s your favorite subject?
• What’s your least favorite subject?
• What do you hope to achieve before school ends this year?

Questions to Ask Kids to Get to Know Them

You might think you know everything about your child, but their answers can still surprise you. Whether you are a parent or a teacher, these questions help decode a child’s unique personality and worldview.

• Who is your favorite character, and why?
• If you could pick any name for yourself, what would it be?
• What superhero powers would you want to have?
• What’s your favorite TV show, and why is it the best?
• What are you thankful for?
• Are you excited about your life?
• If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?
• What’s your biggest fear?
• What would you say is your biggest strength?
• How do you overcome your weaknesses?
• What’s your favorite color?
• What’s your happiest memory?
• What makes you sad?
• Do you prefer eating sweet foods or savory?
• What can we do to be better parents?
• If you could choose any animal to be your pet, which one would you pick?
• What do you hope to be when you grow up?
• What has been the worst day of your life?
• What’s the best thing in your life?
• If you could create a new color, how would it look, and what would you call it?
• What is the one place you hope to travel to one day?
• If you could change anything about your family, what would you choose?
• If you could change any rule, which one would it be?
• What’s your motto?
• If you could only bring four things when traveling, what would they be?
• If you were to name a new planet, what would you call it?

Open-Ended Questions for Kids

Open-ended questions are the secret sauce of conversation. They have no right or wrong answers, meaning your child can’t just say “yes” or “no.” These prompts encourage storytelling and critical thinking.

• Do you enjoy any sports, and why did you choose those?
• What foods do you love and why?
• What’s your favorite thing about school?
• Why did you decide to draw that picture?
• If you could do any activity in your free time, what would you choose?
• What makes a nice friend?
• If you had a magic power, what would it be, and why?
• How did this happen?
• How does this work?
• Why did you choose to read that book?
• What does this remind you of, and why is that?
• What happened next?
• What are you most looking forward to this month?
• How are these different?
• What could we have done instead?
• What makes you laugh the most, and why?
• What’s the first thing you want to do when you’re at the beach?
• What did you enjoy the most about this weekend, and why?
• What other tools can you use?
• What do you think this book is about?
• Why is that your favorite toy?
• What do you think about school?
• Are there other solutions to the problem?
• What can you do differently next time?
• How did you create this color?
• Can you tell me about what you’re doing?
• What does this represent to you?
• Can you compare these two, how are they different?
• How did you predict the answer?
• What else would you like to know?
• What can you tell me about this?
• What do you think will happen?

Questions for Small Kids

With toddlers and preschoolers, simplicity is key. Use words they understand and concepts they can see or touch. Questions with binary choices (this or that) often work best for this age group.

• Would you rather eat raisins every day or peas?
• Would you rather swim with a shark or a crocodile?
• Would you rather have a hole in the back of your pants or a broken zipper?
• Would you rather take a shower or have a bath?
• What would you rather have stuck on your shoe, gum or dog poop?
• Would you rather eat salad or liver?
• Would you rather have a pet snake or a pet scorpion living in your room?
• Would you rather be a sports star or a pop star?
• Would you rather eat Starbursts or chocolate for the rest of the day?
• If your toys could talk, what would they say?
• If you could draw anything right now, what would you draw?
• What dreams do you think you’ll dream tonight?
• What do you think animals talk about?
• Do you like it when people share with you?
• Would you rather get in trouble with your teacher or your parents?
• What makes you awesome?
• What makes someone smart?
• If you were a teacher, what would you teach your students?
• What is the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten?
• What would you do if you made the rules at home?
• Who’s your favorite book character?
• What’s your favorite outfit?
• What’s your favorite snack?
• What’s your favorite animal?
• What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re outside?
• What do you take to bed with you every night?
• What do you love to eat for breakfast?
• What should we make for dinner on your birthday?

Science Questions for Kids

It is never too early to get kids involved in science. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the answers immediately. Use this as an opportunity to research together and practice problem-solving skills.

• Why is ocean water salty?
• Why do leaves change color?
• Why does the moon have craters?
• Why is the sky blue?
• What causes thunder and lightning?
• Why is the ocean blue?
• Why is the ocean warm or cold?
• How many stars do you think there are in the galaxy?
• How many planets are in our solar system?
• Is the sun a star or a planet?
• How far away is the moon?
• In which galaxy is Earth?
• What is Earth’s primary source of energy?
• Why can’t we breathe underwater?
• Is it easier to speak through water or air?
• What’s the longest river on Earth?
• What happens when water freezes?
• What causes waves?

Religion-Related Questions for Kids

Whether you are devoutly religious or simply spiritual, these questions expand your child’s moral framework. They encourage kids to think about the metaphysical world and concepts like kindness, eternity, and creation.

• What do you imagine Heaven to look like?
• What smells and sounds do you think Mary and Joseph experienced in the stable on Christmas night?
• How do you picture God?
• What do you think angels look like?
• Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Why did you pick that one?
• How many religions are there in the world?
• Who were the first two people that God created?
• Why do you think God always wants us to tell the truth?
• How do you think we could make the world a better place?
• Where do you think Heaven is?
• Why do you think God created Earth and people?
• Where do you think God lives?
• How do you think Jesus walked on water?

Gratitude and Mindfulness Questions

Teaching children to be mindful and grateful can significantly boost their happiness and emotional resilience. These questions help them focus on the positive aspects of their life and understand their own emotions better.

• What is one thing that made you smile today?
• Who is someone you are grateful for, and why?
• What is your favorite sound in nature?
• If you could give a gift to anyone in the world, who would it be and what would you give?
• How does your body feel when you are angry?
• What is something beautiful you saw today?
• Name three things in this room that you are thankful for.
• What is a nice thing someone did for you recently?
• How do you help yourself relax when you feel stressed?
• What is the tastiest thing you ate this week?
• If feelings were colors, what color would “happy” be?
• What is something you are proud of yourself for doing?

Questions for Older Kids

Tweens and teens can be tough nuts to crack. They often view questions as interrogations, so the delivery matters. Use these conversation starters to lighten the mood or encourage them to share their feelings without pressure.

• What do you think is the best part about getting older?
• What are you least looking forward to when you get older?
• Do you feel ready to leave middle school? Why is that?
• What are your worries about becoming a teenager?
• What privileges are you looking forward to the most about growing up?
• Name two of your strengths and two weaknesses. Why did you pick those?
• Why do you think some kids smoke or use drugs?
• What’s one mistake you wish you could go back and change?
• Who do you wish you could be like? Why is that?
• Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of this year?
• What are your five best traits, and why?
• What do you love doing?
• Out of everything you learned as a kid, what do you think you’ll find most useful as a teenager?
• What do you think your life will be like ten years from now?
• If you could change the world, how would you do it?
• Who are your three best role models, and why?
• What’s the hardest part about being a child/teen?
• What’s the difference between smart and wise?
• What does success mean to you?
• What is your biggest worry?
• What is the most important decision you will ever make?
• What has been the proudest moment of your life?
• Is there a question you always wanted to ask me?
• What do you think the meaning of life is?
• What is something that you always wanted to tell me?
• What is your biggest dream?
• What’s your favorite place to spend time?
• Did you ever get your feelings hurt? How did you deal with it?
• What do you think those people feel?
• Where do you want to travel?
• Would you rather learn about coding or take an art class?

Why Should We Ask More Questions?

Asking sincere questions automatically makes you an active listener. It shows your child you are interested in their thoughts and that they matter to you.

Beyond bonding, questioning is crucial for development. It encourages reasoning, independence, and creativity. When you ask open-ended questions ⁽¹⁾, there is no pressure to find the “correct” answer, which helps children feel safe exploring new ideas.

Conversation helps children map their world. They relate new information to past experiences and apply it to the future. Here is why open-ended questions, in particular, are so powerful:

• Encourages thinking: Kids must move beyond obvious observations.
• Finding solutions: They can brainstorm multiple possibilities before settling on an answer.
• Promotes empathy: Questions about feelings help children understand different perspectives.
• Better understanding: It deepens their knowledge of a specific topic.
• Exercises memory: Recalling past events strengthens both short and long-term memory.
• Increases vocabulary: Explaining and describing things expands their language skills.
• Models listening: When you listen to their answers, you teach them how to be a good listener too.

How to Use Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions often start with “how,” “why,” or phrases like “Tell me about…”

For young children, start simple. Point to an object and ask, “What is that?” When they answer, repeat it back to validate them: “Yes, that is a bike.”

From there, expand: “Where do you think that bike is going?”

With older children, challenge them further. If they are stumped, give them time. Silence is okay; it means they are thinking.

If you are stuck on how to start, try these phrases:

• Hypothetical: “What could happen if…”
• Wonder: “I wonder why/what/if…”
• Solution-oriented: “How can we…”
• Elaboration: “Tell me more about it…”
• Opinion: “Why do you think…”

Closed-Ended vs. Open-Ended Questions

While open-ended questions spark conversation, closed-ended questions still have a place. Closed questions usually require a “yes,” “no,” or a one-word answer.

They are great for factual checks or when you need a quick answer, like “Did you brush your teeth?” ⁽²⁾. The downside is they often stop the conversation in its tracks.

Here is how to flip a closed question into an open one:

Closed Questions

• Did you have fun at school?
• Did you paint this picture?
• Did you hit that boy?
• What’s your favorite snack?

Open Questions

• Can you tell me about your day at school?
• How did you paint this picture?
• Why is that boy crying? Can you tell me what happened?
• Can you tell me about your favorite snacks?

How to Engage Children in Conversations

You want to expand your child’s language skills, but you don’t want to bore them. Here are tips to keep the chat flowing naturally ⁽³⁾:

• Stay at eye level: Sit down or kneel so you can look them in the eyes. It creates a sense of equality and focus.
• Tune in and listen: Be an active listener. Watch their gestures and facial expressions, especially if they are still learning to speak.
• Take turns: Conversation is a two-way street. Give them plenty of room to answer, even if it takes a while.
• Question activities: Ask about what they are doing right now. “What are you building?” is better than asking about abstract concepts.
• Relate to interests: Talk about what they love, not what you watched on the news. If they love dinosaurs, ask about dinosaurs.
• Add follow-ups: Model new language by asking what happens next or why something happened.
• Watch for cues: If they look bored or turn away, let it go. Change the subject or let them play quietly.

FAQs

Why Should You Ask Kids Questions?

Asking kids questions encourages them to think critically, express their feelings, and enhances their language and communication skills. It also strengthens your bond with them.

How Many Questions Do Kids Ask a Day?

On average, kids can ask about 300 questions a day. This natural curiosity is a crucial part of their learning and understanding of the world.

What If My Child Gives One-Word Answers?

If your child answers with “fine” or “good,” try changing your approach. Instead of broad questions like “How was your day?”, ask specific ones like “What was the funniest thing that happened at lunch?” or “Who did you play with at recess?”

How Do I Ask Questions Without Prying?

To avoid sounding like an interrogator, share your own experiences first. For example, say, “I had a really tough meeting today,” before asking, “Did anything challenging happen in your class?” This makes the conversation feel like a two-way exchange rather than an interview.