Ages 3 to teens · 200+ original questions

Conversation Starters for Kids

Questions to ask kids that get past "fine" and "nothing". Sorted by age, with extra lists for after school, the car ride, bedtime, classrooms and camps, plus open-ended and funny questions. Draw a random one, or read down the list.

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Questions for kids ages 3 to 5

Short, concrete and about things a young child knows well: favorites, animals, people they love.

What is your favorite color today?
If you had a pet dragon, what would you name it?
What is the silliest thing you can think of?
Who makes you laugh the most?
What is your favorite thing to do outside?
If you could talk to one animal, which would you pick?
What is your favorite song to dance to?
What would you put in a sandwich if you could pick anything?
Who do you like to cuddle with?
What did you play with today?
What is your favorite bedtime story?
Which animal do you think is the funniest?
What do you like best about your bedroom?
What makes you feel happy?
If you could have any toy in the world, what would it be?
What sound do you like the most?
What do you like to draw?
What would you do if you could fly for one day?
Who is your favorite person to play with?
What is your favorite food for a birthday party?
What is something you can do all by yourself?
Where would you go in a rocket ship?
What is the nicest thing someone did for you today?
What is your favorite thing to do with Grandma or Grandpa?
If you were a bird, where would you fly?

Questions for kids ages 6 to 9

Kids this age love stories, rules, jokes and "what if" questions. Ask for a story, not a verdict.

What is the best thing that happened to you this week?
If you could invent a new holiday, what would we celebrate?
What is something you are really good at?
What would your perfect Saturday look like?
If you could have any superpower for a day, what would you do with it?
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen?
Who is someone you admire, and why?
What is a game you would like to invent?
If you could be any animal for a day, which one would you be?
What is something you learned recently that surprised you?
What is your favorite place to read or draw?
If you built a treehouse, what would be inside?
What is one thing you want to get better at?
What would you do with a magic pencil that makes everything you draw real?
What makes a good friend?
If you ran the school for a day, what would you change first?
What is the bravest thing you have tried?
What is something kind you did for someone lately?
Which would you rather explore: a jungle, a mountain or the sea?
What is your favorite family tradition?
If you could meet any character from a book, who would it be?
What is a question you have always wanted to ask me?
What would you teach a visiting alien about our planet?
What is the best part of your morning?
What is something that always cheers you up?
If you could travel to any country, where would you go first?
What do you think grown-ups do all day?
What was the most fun part of school today?
What is something you would like to try this summer?
If you could have lunch with any animal, which one would you pick?

Questions for kids ages 10 to 12

Older kids appreciate being asked for their opinion. Listen first, and save your advice for later.

What is something you are proud of that nobody knows about?
If you could change one rule at home or school, what would it be?
What do you think makes someone a good leader?
What is a hobby you would like to try?
If you could invent something that would help people, what would it be?
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Who in your life do you feel really comfortable being yourself around?
What is something you are curious about right now?
What kind of job do you imagine yourself doing, even if it changes later?
What is one thing you wish adults understood about kids your age?
What song or show are you into at the moment, and what do you like about it?
What would you do with a whole day and no plans?
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
If you could talk to yourself five years ago, what would you say?
What would your dream bedroom look like?
What makes a joke really funny?
What is a skill you would like to learn this year?
What do you think the world will look like when you are grown up?
What is something small that makes your day better?
If you could spend a day with any person from history, who would it be?
What is something you do well that you did not think you could?
How do you like to spend time with friends?
What is your favorite thing about our family?
What is one thing you would like to do together as a family this year?
What do you do when you want to cheer up a friend?
If you could design a new sport, how would it work?
What is a project you would love to build or make?
What is something you have changed your mind about?
What is the best trip you can imagine?
What is something you are grateful for today?

Conversation starters for teens

Teenagers talk more when the question is about their world and their opinion, not about grades. Side by side works better than face to face, so try these on a walk, while cooking or in the car.

What is something people your age care about that adults do not get?
Which app, game or creator are you into right now, and what makes it good?
If you could change one thing about school, what would it be?
What is a song you think I would secretly like?
What makes someone a good friend at your age?
What is something you have figured out on your own this year?
If you could live anywhere for a year, where would you go?
What is a rule at home you think we should rethink?
Who is someone you look up to who is not famous?
What would you do with a free weekend and a small budget?
What is something you are looking forward to this year?
What do you wish you had more time for?
What is a skill you would like to learn that school does not teach?
What is the best advice you have heard from a friend?
What is one thing you want me to know but never get to say?

Questions to ask your kids after school

Skip "How was school?" and ask about one small moment. Many children need a snack and a little quiet first, so try these at the table, in the car or at bedtime rather than at the door.

What made you smile today?
Who did you sit with at lunch?
What was the best part of your day?
What was the hardest part of your day?
What did you laugh about today?
Did anyone do something kind for you today?
Did you do something kind for someone else?
What was the most interesting thing you learned?
What did you play at recess?
Which subject was the most fun today?
What is something new you tried?
If your day were a movie, what would it be called?
What was the funniest thing your teacher said?
Is there anything you are looking forward to tomorrow?
Who would you like to play with more?
What did you eat for lunch, and was it good?
What was the loudest part of your day?
What was the quietest part of your day?
What is one thing you want to remember about today?
Did anything surprise you today?
What song was stuck in your head?
Tell me about one person in your class.
What did you read or listen to today?
What would you change about today if you could?
What did you make or build today?
Which book, game or activity did you like most?
What is something you helped with today?
What is something you want to show me?
Is there something you are curious about after today?
What do you want to tell me that I forgot to ask?

Get to know you questions and icebreakers for kids

For classrooms, clubs, camps and playdates. Everything here is easy to answer in one sentence and safe to share with a group. Invite children to pass if they like.

What is your name, and do you know why your parents chose it?
What is your favorite animal?
What is your favorite game to play with friends?
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
If you could have any pet, what would it be?
What is your favorite season, and why?
What is a book or show you really like?
What is something you are good at?
What is one thing you want to learn this year?
What do you like to do on the weekend?
What is your favorite kind of weather?
If you could visit any place, where would you go?
What is your favorite subject at school?
What is something that makes you laugh?
What is your favorite song or kind of music?
Do you have any brothers, sisters or pets you would like to tell us about?
What is your favorite thing to draw or make?
What would you invent if you could invent anything?
What is your favorite sport or way to move?
What is a word you really like the sound of?
What superpower would you pick for our group?
What is your favorite thing about our class or team?
What is one thing you would like us to know about you?
What is your favorite place to be?
What is a nice thing a friend has done for you?
What do you like to do when it rains?
What is your favorite holiday?
What is one thing you are looking forward to?
What kind of game would you like us to play together?
If we built a clubhouse, what would you put inside?

Open-ended questions for kids

Open-ended questions cannot be answered with yes, no or one word. They invite a story or an opinion, which is what keeps a conversation going.

What do you think would happen if there were no rules for one day?
How would you explain your favorite game to someone who has never played it?
What makes a day a really good day?
Why do you think people have pets?
What would you change about our town if you were in charge?
How do you know when someone is a real friend?
What do you think animals talk about?
What is the hardest thing about being a kid?
What is the best thing about being a kid?
How would you spend a day if you could do anything at all?
What do you think you will remember about this year when you are grown up?
Why do you think some stories make people cry?

Car ride questions for kids

In the car nobody has to make eye contact, which makes it one of the easiest places to talk. Keep it light and let them ask you questions too.

If this car could fly, where would we go first?
What do you think the people in the car next to us are talking about?
What song should be the theme song of our family?
If you could rename our street, what would you call it?
Which would you rather be: a bus driver, a pilot or a ship captain?
What is the best road trip snack, and why?
If you could stop anywhere on this trip, where would it be?
What would you build on that empty lot we just passed?
What is something you noticed out the window today?
If our car had a name, what would it be?
What would you do if you had a whole day with no school and no plans?
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened on a trip?

Bedtime questions to ask your kids

Children often open up most right before sleep. Choose calm questions, and end on something good.

What was the best part of today?
What is something that made you feel proud today?
Was there anything today that felt hard or worried you?
Who were you kind to today?
What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
What would you like to dream about tonight?
What is one thing you are thankful for today?
If you could replay one moment from today, which would it be?
What is something you would like to do together this weekend?
What made you laugh today?
Is there anything you want to tell me before you sleep?
What is your favorite thing about our evenings together?

Funny and silly questions to ask kids

When the mood is low or the car ride is long, silly questions work every time.

If you could wear any costume to school, what would it be?
What would a sandwich made of rainbows taste like?
If your shoes could talk, what would they say?
What would happen if dogs could drive cars?
What would you name a pet cloud?
If you had to eat only one color of food for a day, which color?
What would a superhero who loves broccoli be called?
If you could make a rule for the whole world, what would it be?
What would you put in a time capsule for kids of the future?
What would it be like if everyone had a tail?
If you could be the boss of a giant ice cream shop, what flavors would you make?
What would you do if you woke up as a giraffe?
What would be the best name for a pirate ship?
If your toys had a secret party at night, what would they do?
What is the silliest dance you can do right now?

A tip for parents

Ask one question, then wait. Count to five in your head before you add another one. Share your own answer too, since children open up when a conversation goes both ways. If the answer is "I don't know", try again tomorrow with a different question.

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Frequently asked questions

What are good conversation starters for kids?

The best conversation starters are open (they cannot be answered with yes or no), specific and a little playful. "What was the funniest thing today?" works better than "How was your day?". The lists on this page are sorted by age so you can pick what fits.

How do I get my child to talk about their day?

Choose a relaxed moment such as dinner, a walk or bedtime, and ask about one small detail instead of the whole day. Offer your own answer first, stay curious, and avoid correcting or judging what you hear. Some children need a snack and some quiet before they talk.

What are fun questions to ask kids?

Imaginative "what if" questions are a safe bet, such as inventing a new animal or a holiday. Silly questions about food, pets and costumes also work well. See the fun and silly list above, or the would you rather page for two-choice questions.

What questions can I ask kids to get to know them?

Start with favorites (animal, game, food), then move to what they enjoy and what they are curious about. The get to know you list works as an icebreaker at school, camp or a playdate, since everything is easy to answer in one sentence.

At what age can I start asking these questions?

From about age 3, with short, concrete questions about favorites and daily life. Kids ages 6 to 9 enjoy stories and "what if" questions, and ages 10 to 12 like being asked for opinions. Choose by interest rather than a number.

What are good conversation starters for teens?

Teens respond best to questions about their own interests and opinions: music, apps, friends, what they would change. Ask while doing something side by side, like driving or cooking, and accept short answers without pushing.

What are open-ended questions for kids?

Open-ended questions are questions that need more than a yes, no or one word, such as "What makes a day a really good day?" They help children practice explaining their thinking, and they keep the conversation going much longer.

Is there an app of conversation starters for kids?

Cards Junior has hand-written question cards in eight themed packs for ages 4 to 12, plus a new card every day. It has no ads and no accounts, and it works offline. You can download it on the App Store.