79 Fun Questions for Getting to Know Your Kid

As a parent, you might feel you know your kids like the back of your hand. But people—including children—are constantly changing and developing new emotions, fears, thoughts, and preferences. Therefore, to continue getting to know your child, you need to keep asking questions that start conversations.

The only problem? Kids are masters of one-word answers. Even common questions like "How was your day?" can lead to a dead end.

If you're looking to engage your child and get them talking, consider these fun questions to ask toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and older kids.

Fun Questions for Toddlers and Preschoolers

From learning about your little one's inner world to better understanding their dreams, aspirations, goals, and fears, these preschooler and toddler questions will help you engage them at every level.

1. If your stuffed animals could talk, what would they say?
2. What does it feel like when I hug you?
3. If you drew everything that came into your head, what would you be drawing right now?
4. What do you think you're going to dream about tonight?
5. What sounds do you like best and why?
6. If you were going to spend the whole day outside, what outdoor activities would you do?
7. What are the best ways to make a fort?
8. How do you think animals communicate?
9. Describe a great day: What are you doing that makes it special?
10. What animal would make a great driver?
11. Do you like it when other people share with you? Why?
12. Who is your favorite storybook character?
13. What one thing do you do now that you usually need an adult for, but would like to try to do all by yourself?
14. If you had to give everyone in the family new names, what would they be?
15. What makes you happy?
16. If you could do anything right now, what would you do?
17. If you had a pet dragon, what would you name it?
18. What would you do together with your pet dragon?

Fun Questions to Ask Kindergarteners

Looking for a way to engage your kindergartener, particularly at the end of a long day? These fun questions will get your kiddo talking about things both big and small.

1. Do you ever think about renaming the colors of your crayons?
2. What movie, TV, or book character makes you laugh the most?
3. If you opened a store, what would you sell?
4. How do you think other people feel when you’re kind to them?
5. How do you think kids who do tease others feel about themselves? How do you think kids who get teased feel?
6. How do you help yourself face your fears?
7. What's your superhero name, and what powers do you have?
8. If you could grow anything in the yard, what would it be?
9. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
10. What do you enjoy giving to people?
11. Did you smile or laugh extra today? What did you laugh about?
12. Pretend you're a chef and tell me about your restaurant: What foods do you serve?
13. Where would you like to travel and why? How would you get there?
14. If you could ask a wild animal any question, what would you ask?
15. If your pets could talk, what would they say?
16. What are some of the most amazing things about nature?
17. If you were a photographer for a day, what would you take pictures of?
18. Did you have a chance to be kind to anyone today?
    
19. If you could invent one tool what would it be?
20. If you could learn any language, what would it be?
21. If you could make up a new holiday, what would it be?
22. What is the funniest thing you've ever eaten?
23. What would you do if you made the rules at home?
24. What makes someone smart?
25. If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
26. What was your favorite thing about today?

Fun Questions for Older Kids

As your kids grow, so too do their communication and language skills—but that doesn't mean they're open books. Use these questions to engage older children.

1. What do you like daydreaming about?
2. When your brain makes you think negative thoughts—such as ‘you’ll never succeed’ or ‘no one likes you?'—what are some things you can tell yourself to change these thoughts?
   
3. What is something about you that I might not know?
4. What have your friends been up to?
5. What's a memory that makes you happy?
6. What do you look forward to when you wake up?
7. Let's say you're at the beach: What's the first thing you do?
8. What makes you feel brave?
9. What makes you feel loved?
10. How do you show people you care?
11. If you could achieve any goal, however impossible it seems, what would it be?
12. Is it ever OK to ever cheat in school or sports?
13. If you could give $100 to a charity, what charity would you choose?
14. How would you design a treehouse?
15. If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
16. If you designed clothes, what would they look like?
17. How do you best like helping others?
18. What makes you feel thankful?
19. If you lived in a cave in the woods, how would you decorate it?
20. What makes you feel energized?
21. What traits do you look for in friends?
22. If you were in a movie, what character would want to play?
23. What do you think about clothing styles that are popular today?
24. What do you think is the most important quality a person can have?
25. What is one thing you want to achieve before you finish school?
26. What are three things you want to do this summer?
27. If you had friends all over the world, how would you keep in touch?
28. If you joined the circus, what would your circus act be?
29. Do you think the discipline and consequences in our family are fair?
30. If you could make three family rules, what would they be?
31. What do you think are the most important qualities of a good parent?
32. What is your favorite family tradition?
33. What are some things that you don’t need, but you’re really happy that you have?
34. If you were a teacher and could teach your students anything at all, what would you teach them?
35. If a friend asked you to keep a secret that you don't feel comfortable keeping, what would you do?

The Benefits of Open-Ended Questions for Kids

There are tremendous benefits to asking kids questions that require more than "yes" or "no" answers. Some of the advantages include:

• Developing their language, communication, critical thinking, and social skills
• Fostering creativity, self-esteem, and confidence
• Getting to know them and how their minds work even better, which deepens your bond

A strong bond with our kids is key to their healthy development and emotional well-being—and it makes parenting all the more satisfying. To strengthen the parent-child bond, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends practicing consistent and active listening, which gives children a safe space to share their ideas.

Research also shows that having a healthy parent-child connection can help prevent mental health disorders and behavioral issues later in life.

And while parents of young kids are used to their child asking hundreds of questions every day, answering their questions actually keeps your child's mind open, says child psychologist Michele Borba, EdD. It also lets kids know that imagination and curiosity are welcomed and encouraged. Plus, Dr. Borba adds, "You're modeling what a good question looks and sounds like."

How to Ask "Get to Know You" Questions

Whether your child is in kindergarten or elementary school, you can use the questions above to get the conversation rolling. But these ideas are simply a starting point: You can ask your child about anything in the past, their present day-to-day life, or the future.

You can ground your questions in reality or fantasy. They can be silly, serious, or somewhere in between. You can also follow their lead by asking them the questions that they ask you. If they ask your opinion about something, simply turn it around by asking, "What do you think?"

Subjects likely to cultivate fertile ground for discussion include topics related to their interests, hobbies, friends, and popular culture. If they love superheroes, soccer, piano, or painting, ask them questions related to those passions.

When to Ask Questions for Kids

You can ask your kids questions at any time and anywhere. However, choosing a moment and place when your child is focused, calm, and unhurried may result in more in-depth answers. It's better if they have fewer distractions, too.

Car rides, bedtime, waiting in line or for an appointment, and the dinner table are all great spaces for these discussions, as you're likely to have your child's full attention at those times.

You can even make a game of it. Print out a bunch of questions and cut them up on individual strips of paper, then have your child choose a question to talk about.