101 fun questions to ask your kid to strengthen your bond
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
Forget one-word answers. These 101 fun and engaging questions will help your kids open up about what matters to them, building your bond and sharing some laughs along the way.
Have you ever asked your child what they did at school only to be told, “I don’t remember…”?
Many kids have a magical ability to give the least amount of detail possible when asked a direct question. It’s almost like they’re professionally trained in the art of dodging conversation.
The thing is, kids actually do want to talk. You just have to ask the right questions: ones that spark their imagination, make them laugh, or invite them to share something meaningful on their terms.
So, meet them where they are. Instead of the same old, “How was your day?” (which, let’s be honest, will never yield a thrilling response), try questions that make them pause and think for a moment. This way, you’re not prying information out of them, you’re building a habit of open conversation, one fun question at a time.
Ask them in the car, at bedtime, over breakfast, or whenever your kid is in a chatty mood. You might be surprised at what they share — and the hilarious, heartwarming, or even unexpectedly deep conversations that follow.
20 fun and silly questions to make kids laugh
Laughter is one of the easiest ways to connect with your child (and can boost your mental health too). These offbeat, ridiculous questions will get them giggling while giving you a glimpse into their wonderfully weird little minds.
Wacky “would you rather” questions
Would you rather have a banana for a nose or popcorn for ears? Kids love absurd choices, and these “would you rather” questions are a surefire way to spark hilarious debates.
Would you rather have spaghetti for hair or marshmallows for fingers?
Would you rather live in a house made of chocolate or a castle made of cheese?
Would you rather always talk in rhymes or only be able to whisper?
Would you rather ride a roller coaster that never ends or a Ferris wheel that goes super fast?
Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet unicorn?
If your stuff could talk…
Ever wonder what your backpack thinks about your daily routine? These questions help kids think outside the box — and maybe appreciate their favorite objects a little more.
If your socks could talk, what would they say about your feet?
If your toothbrush had feelings, how would it feel about its job?
If your toys threw a party while you were sleeping, what would they do?
If your backpack could complain, what would it say?
If animals could talk to you, which one do you think would be the funniest?
Imagine a world where…
What if the moon really was made of cheese? These questions let kids build wild, imaginary worlds where anything is possible.
If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be called and how would we celebrate?
If your shadow had a mind of its own, what do you think it would do?
If you could make one silly law that everyone had to follow, what would it be?
What do you wish clouds were made of?
If you had a magic remote that could pause or rewind real life, when would you use it?
Food, but make it funny
What’s better than food? Food-related nonsense! These questions are perfect for mealtime giggles.
What’s the silliest pizza topping combination you can think of?
If you could turn any food into a superhero, which one would you pick and why?
If vegetables could talk, which one would be the grumpiest?
If you ate only dessert for an entire day, which treats would you choose?
If you could invent a new ice cream flavor, what would it be?
💙 Why not incorporate some silly moves into your kids day with Mel Mah’s Working Out the Wiggles session?
20 questions to get to know your child better
Forget the usual “What’s your favorite color?” These questions dig a little deeper into what makes your child them — their dreams, their interests, and how they see the world.
All about them
Who are they, really? These questions help kids define what makes them special. Who knows? They might even surprise themselves with their answers.
What’s something you love doing that makes you feel really happy?
If you could rename yourself, what would you want to be called?
What’s something you’re really good at?
What’s one thing that makes you feel really proud of yourself?
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Big dreams and wild ideas
Every kid has dreams. These questions encourage them to think big.
If you could have any job in the world when you grow up, what would it be?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If you could suddenly have super-skill, what would it be?
If you could invent something to make life easier, what would it do?
What’s something you dream about doing one day?
A peek into their world
What’s school really like? What do they wish adults understood? These questions help you see the world through their eyes.
If you could be principal of your school for a day, what rules would you change?
What’s one thing about school that you really like?
What’s one thing about school you wish was different?
What’s the best thing about being a kid?
What’s one thing you wish adults understood about being a kid?
Favorites, but with a twist
Forget the usual “favorite color” and “favorite food” questions — these favorites are a little more unexpected.
If you could only listen to one song forever, what would it be?
If you could only watch one movie over and over again, which one would you pick?
If you could only eat three foods for a year, what would they be?
What book should everyone read at least once?
If you were a baseball player, what song would play when you came up to bat?
20 thought-provoking questions to spark curiosity
These questions help kids think outside the box and explore new ideas — without it feeling like homework.
Imagine a different world
What if everything was upside down? What if people lived in the ocean? These questions let kids stretch their creativity and invent a world of their own.
If you could switch lives with any fictional character, who would it be?
If you could time travel, would you rather visit the past or the future?
If you could build a brand-new planet, what would it be like?
If you could talk to any historical figure, who would you pick and what would you ask?
If you could live in any book or movie world, which one would you choose?
“What if?” questions
Kids love hypotheticals, especially ridiculous ones. These questions tap into their curiosity and creativity.
If aliens landed in our backyard, what would be the first thing you’d say to them?
If you could talk to animals, what’s the first thing you’d ask them?
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
If you could wake up with a superpower, which one would you want?
Life’s little mysteries
Kids are natural philosophers. Sometimes, they just need the right question to get them going.
What’s something you’ve always been curious about but never asked?
If you could solve one big mystery in the world, what would it be?
If you could design your dream school, what classes would you add?
What’s something that happens in nature that seems magical to you?
What do you think is the coolest invention ever made?
Looking at things differently
These questions encourage kids to see things in a new way, whether it’s about themselves, the world, or the future.
What’s something small that can make a big difference?
What’s a time when you changed your mind about something?
If you could ask the president one question, what would it be?
What’s one way kids can change the world?
What’s something you wish you knew how to do?
20 questions to encourage emotional expression
Kids may not always have the words to explain their feelings, but these thoughtful questions help create a safe space for them to share what’s in their hearts. The Feelings Wheel can be a good visual aid for this too.
Big feelings, big thoughts
Sometimes, kids just need the right words to talk about how they feel. These questions give them a way to open up.
What’s something that made you feel really happy this week?
What’s a time when you felt really proud of yourself?
What’s something that always makes you feel loved?
What’s a time when you felt really brave?
What’s something you wish people knew about you?
Handling tough moments
It’s not always easy to talk about the hard stuff, but these questions can help kids express their feelings in a safe way.
What’s something that helps you feel better when you’re sad?
What’s a time when something felt really hard, but you got through it?
What’s one thing that makes you feel nervous?
What’s something you do when you’re feeling frustrated?
What’s a time when someone helped you feel better?
Friendship and connection
Friends are a huge part of kids’ lives — these questions help them reflect on what friendship means to them.
What do you think makes someone a good friend?
What’s one way you like to show kindness to others?
What do your friends do to make you feel special?
What’s something you love doing with your family?
If you could plan the perfect day with your best friend, what would you do?
Gratitude and reflection
Slowing down and noticing the good things is a skill kids can carry with them for life. These questions make space for reflection.
What’s something you’re really grateful for today?
What’s a small thing that makes a big difference in your day?
What’s a memory that always makes you smile?
What’s something you love about yourself?
What’s one thing you want to remember about being a kid when you’re older?
21 questions to strengthen your bond through shared moments
These questions are designed to spark deeper connections and create shared experiences — because the best conversations are about connecting.
Our family, our story
Every family has inside jokes, traditions, and funny moments. These questions bring them to the surface.
What’s your favorite family tradition?
If you could plan a dream family vacation, where would we go?
What’s something funny that has happened in our family?
What’s a meal we should cook together soon?
If we could create a secret family handshake, what would it look like?
Fun with memories
Remember that time we all got soaked in the rain? Or the time you laughed so hard you snorted? These questions help relive the best moments.
What’s the best day you’ve ever had?
What’s something we’ve done together that made you laugh really hard?
What’s your earliest memory?
What’s the silliest story I’ve ever told you?
What’s one thing we should do more often as a family?
Let’s dream together
What’s next for our family? These questions invite kids to dream up exciting adventures — real or imagined.
If we could go on a wild adventure tomorrow, what would we do?
What’s a hobby or activity you’d love for us to try together?
If you could design the perfect family game night, what would we play?
If we could time travel together, what era would we visit?
If we started a family business, what would we sell?
A little bit of magic
Every family has its own kind of magic. These questions bring it out in unexpected ways.
If our family had a theme song, what would it be?
If we could invent a new family tradition, what would it be?
If you could give everyone in our family a superpower, what would they be?
If every member of our family was an animal, what would it be?
What’s a way we can make someone else’s day better together?
What’s one thing you want me to always remember about you?
💙 Mel Mah’s Kids Bedtime Routine can help you all wind down in a peaceful way, together.
Questions for kids FAQs
What are good questions to ask kids to get them to open up?
The best questions to ask kids are open-ended, playful, and relevant to their world. Instead of asking, “Did you have a good day?”—which almost always leads to a dead-end answer—try something that sparks their imagination or invites storytelling, like “What was the funniest thing that happened today?” or “If you could switch places with your teacher for a day, what would you do?” Kids are much more likely to engage when a question feels fun, unexpected, and free of pressure.
What are some silly questions to ask kids?
Kids love absurdity, so the weirder and wackier the question, the better. Offbeat questions tap into their creativity, making conversation feel more like a game than a chore.
Silly questions are also a great way to bond, especially when you play along. If your kid tells you they’d rather ride a roller coaster that never stops over a Ferris wheel that goes super fast, ask why and join in the fun by sharing your own ridiculous answer.
Laughter is a powerful connector, and sometimes the most unexpected conversations start with a totally goofy question.
Why is it important to ask fun and engaging questions to kids?
Kids spend a lot of their day being told what to do—sit still, follow directions, finish their homework—so having a space where they get to lead the conversation is powerful. Asking fun and engaging questions gives them a chance to express themselves, think creatively, and feel heard without any right or wrong answers. It also helps build communication skills, emotional intelligence, and a sense of connection with you.
Beyond that, these questions create opportunities for everyday bonding. A quick chat in the car or during dinner can turn into a meaningful moment of connection. The more kids feel like their thoughts and ideas are valued, the more likely they are to open up — not just about the silly stuff but about the big things, too.
How can I get good answers from my kid?
The key to getting good answers is making the conversation feel natural, not forced. If you ask a question and get a one-word response, don’t panic — sometimes kids just need a little extra space to warm up. Try following up with, “Tell me more!” or sharing your own answer first to get the ball rolling. If they see that you’re genuinely interested (and willing to be a little silly yourself), they’ll be more likely to engage.
Also, be thoughtful about your timing. Some kids open up more when they’re relaxed—like at bedtime or when you’re doing an activity together—while others chat more when they’re distracted, like in the car. If they’re tired, hungry, or mid-screen time, you might not get much out of them. But if you catch them in the right moment, you might just unlock a goldmine of thoughts, ideas, and hilarious kid logic.
When’s the best time to ask my kids questions?
The best time to ask kids questions is when they’re naturally more open to conversation — when they feel safe, relaxed, and not pressured to respond. For some kids, that’s during bedtime, when they’re winding down and their thoughts start to flow. For others, it’s in the car, when there’s no pressure for eye contact and they can talk freely. Meal times, walks, or even while playing with Legos can also be great moments to slip in a fun question.
Trying to force deep conversation right after school when their brain is fried or when they’re engrossed in a game or show usually won’t work. Instead, look for organic, low-pressure moments when chatting feels easy. And remember, it’s not about when you ask, it’s about showing up consistently so that when they are ready to talk, they know you’ll be there to listen.
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