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101 questions for kids to get to know them bett er

Get kids talking with these inspiring — and silly — open-ended
questions.

Asking open-ended questions to kids allows them to say something other than "yes" or "no." The Good Brigade / Getty
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Sept. 15, 2022, 1:58 PM EDT / Source: TODAY

By Kait Hanson

Weary parents who know the feeling of kids asking questions all day long might
be surprised to learn that it's good to flip the script sometimes.
Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in Princeton, New Jersey,
told TODAY Parents that parents should ask questions that begin with "what" or "how"
to encourage children to give more elaborate answers.

"Open-ended questions give kids the chance to answer more then 'yes' or 'no',"
Kennedy-Moore told TODAY Parents. "You may be delightfully surprised by your child’s
comments or observations."

While asking inquisitive questions, Kennedy-Moore, author of "Kid Confidence: Help

Your Child Make Friends, Build Resilience, and Develop Real Self-Esteem," cautioned
about using one specific word.

"Be careful about asking 'why' questions about your child’s actions," she said. "'Why
did you do that?' sounds judgmental, and kids often can’t honestly answer it."

Ready to get to know the kid or kids in your life better? Here are 101 questions for kids
to inspire conversation — and maybe a few laughs.

101 questions for kids

1 What do you want to be when you grow up?

2 If you could be a superhero, what would your magic power be?

3 What is something that scares you?

4 Do you have a favorite joke?

5 What is something you wish you knew how to do?

6 If you had a time machine, where would you go?

7 What makes you laugh the most?

9 What does your dream house look
like?
10 If you traded places with our pet, what is the first thing you would do?

11 What is your perfect

day?
12 If you could be an animal, which animal would you be?

13 What is your favorite thing about

yourself?

14 If a friend asked you to keep a secret, but it made you feel upset, what would you do?

15 Would you rather go to the beach or the mountains?

16 What is your favorite outfit and
why?
17 Do you have a favorite song?

18 If you could grow wings and fly, where would you

go?
19 Which pizza topping is best?

20 Do you have any hidden

talents?
21 Would you rather go to the bottom of the ocean or outer space?

22 If you could be any toy, which one would you

be?
23 What is a job that you would never want to have?

24 Which season is your favorite and

why?
25 If you could learn any language, which language would it be?

26 What is your favorite

holiday?
27 How would you describe
yourself?
28 What is one thing that makes you unique?

29 If you were given $50, how would you spend

it?
30 What are you thankful for?

31 Do you have a favorite

chore?
32 What is your favorite candy?

33 Do you have a
hero?
34 What is your favorite thing to do when it's raining?

35 What is your favorite

outfit?
36 Who is someone you wish you could meet?

37 If you could be on a TV show, what show would it

be?
38 What is the best smell?

39 What is your favorite

vegetable?
40 Would you rather be as small as an ant or as big as an elephant?

41 Do you have a favorite

dinner?
42 What is something you are good at?

43 If you could invent something, what would it

be?
44 What qualities do you look for in friends?
45 If you could buy anything, what would it
be?
46 If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

47 Can you show me your favorite

dance?
48 If you were the president, what rules would you put into place?

49 What song do you know all the words

to?
50 Which teacher has been your favorite and
why?
51 What actor would play you in a
movie?
52 If you could meet a celebrity, who would it
be?
53 What is the best advice you've ever
gotten?
54 Do you prefer shorts or
pants?
55 What is your favorite
fruit?
56 Do you have a favorite
drink?
57 What is your favorite
movie?
58 Who is your favorite family
member?
59 If you could go to a theme park by yourself, what is the first thing you would
do?
60 Would you live on the
moon?
61 What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the
morning?
62 What meal is your
favorite?
63 Can you play any
instruments?
64 Does anything scare you about the
future?
65 Do you have a favorite family
game?
66 Tell me about a dream you had
recently.
67 What is one way you help your
parents?
68 What is something you like to do when you're
bored?
69 Do you like to play in the
snow?
70 Do you have a favorite
book?
71 What is your favorite part about
school?
72 What is your least favorite part about
school?
73 What is something your mom or dad always says to
you?
74 What is
love?
75 What is your favorite part of the
day?
76 If stuffed animals could talk, what would they
say?

More fun for kids!

• 6 fun car games for kids during a road
trip

• 86 riddles for kids that will tease the brain and tickle the funny
bone
• 5 typing games for kids that are both fun and
free

Questions for young kids

Kennedy-Moore told TODAY Parents that silly questions can be fun and playful.

"Young kids enjoy silliness and find it hilarious," she said. "They also like knowing
things, especially when an adult doesn’t seem to. Absurdity is very funny to
them."

1 What is your favorite color?

2 When is your birthday?

3 Do you like milk or water?

4 Where is your nose?

5 What is the silliest noise you can make?

6 What is your favorite food?

7 What is your mom's name?

8 What is your dad's name?

9 What is your brother/sister's name?

10 How old are you?

11 What is your favorite toy?

14 What is your favorite
animal?
15 What are you good
at?
16 What is something you really
like?
17 What is something that makes you
laugh?
18 Who is your favorite
person?
19 Is there anything that makes you
sad?
20 What is your favorite
shape?
21 Do dogs have
scales?
22 If you could be a scary monster, what would you
be?
23 If our pet could talk, what would you talk about with
them?
24 How old is
mom?
25 How old is
dad?

Kait Hanson
Kait Hanson is a lifestyle reporter for TODAY. A graduate of Penn State University, she began her career in collegiate sports
communications.
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