15 Questions that Teachers and Parents Can Ask Kids to Encourage Critical Thinking
Each student walks across the graduation stage, diploma in one hand and a proverbial toolbox in the other. Inside the box is every skill and piece of knowledge they've learned throughout their childhood. The contents of this toolbox will be their building blocks to success beyond high school.
In addition to impressive classroom discoveries — like producing electricity from potatoes or building their own paper mache volcano — there's a vital skill every student should possess: critical thinking. They'll use this skill to assess, critique, and create, propelling them to thrive in the real world as they participate in engaging conversations and offer constructive solutions to real-world issues.
Fortunately, this valuable skill can be developed both inside and out of the classroom. Teachers and parents can encourage kids to think deeply and critically about the world by asking good questions. We'll explore why, as parents and teachers, the questions we ask our kids matter — and what we can be asking to help them excel.
How Questions Guide Young Students’ Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is about so much more than simply knowing the facts. Thinking critically involves applying reason and logic to assess arguments and come to your own conclusions. Instead of reciting facts or giving a textbook answer, critical thinking skills encourage students to move beyond knowing information and get to the heart of what they really think and believe.
15 Questions to Encourage Critical Thinking
What is one of the best ways to encourage critical thinking? By asking excellent questions!
We have compiled a list of 15 questions that you, as a teacher or parent, can ask to encourage kids to think outside the box. Let's dive in.
1. How Do You Know This?
Whether it was by word of mouth, classroom knowledge, or a news report, this question prompts students to consider whether their source of information is reputable.
2. How Would Your Perspective Be Different If You Were on the Opposing Side?
This question encourages kids to role-play from an opposing person’s viewpoint and discover a perspective outside their own so that they can better understand the broader situation. Extracurriculars like debate class — mandatory for all Hun middle school students — is a powerful way to accomplish this goal, as students must thoughtfully anticipate their opposition's arguments in order to counter them.
3. How Would You Solve This Problem?
Finding creative solutions to common problems is a valuable life skill. This question is the perfect opportunity to encourage young minds to wander!
4. Do You Agree or Disagree — and Why?
Choosing a side in any debate challenges students to consider both perspectives, weigh the arguments, and make an informed choice.
5. Why? Why? Why?
Just like when you were a young kid, ask why repeatedly to push students beyond a simple first, second, or even third answer, to get to the real depth. Be careful, though, not to ask them to the point of frustration — you want learning and exploring to be a positive experience.
6. How Could We Avoid This Problem in the Future?
Ask students to apply critical thinking by analyzing how they could prevent a certain issue from reoccurring.
7. Why Does It Matter?
Whether they're learning about a historical event or a mathematical concept, it's important to understand why the topic is relevant today.
8. What's Another Way to Look at This Issue?
It can be easy to learn one worldview and automatically believe it is the only, or the best, way. Challenging kids to think of a creative alternate perspective encourages them to think more broadly.
9. Can You Give Me an Example?
Inventing an example, or pulling from experience to share a real one, is an excellent way to apply critical thinking skills.
10. How Could It Have Ended Differently?
It takes some innovation and careful analysis to storyboard a different ending, considering "what could have been" rather than "what is."
11. When Will We Be Able to Tell If It Worked?
Kids will be pushed to consider what constitutes success and how it can be measured in scenarios where the results aren't set in stone.
12. Why did you ask that question?
Instead of answering a question at face value, this question encourages kids to think about what the merits of the question may be.
13. Who Would Be Affected by This?
Students as the next generation of leaders and game-changers. When making any decision, it's important to consider who will be impacted and how.
14. What Can This Story Teach Us About Our Own Lives?
From literature to social studies, students interact with all kinds of different stories. Help them take these narratives one step further by examining how it relates to their lives.
15. Why Is This a Problem?
Analyzing why something is a problem — rather than just accepting that it is — will help students develop strong problem-solving skills of their own.
The Hun School of Princeton Teaches Critical Thinking
At the Hun School of Princeton, our teachers ask these questions, and more, in combination with our student-centered learning approach that helps kids of all ages think critically about what they’re learning.
As a premier private school in Princeton, NJ , we aim to help students think deeply and develop well-rounded skill sets through immersive, problem-based learning .
Schedule a tour today to see our program in action!
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Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers
We Are Teachers
100+ Critical Thinking Questions for Students To Ask About Anything
Critical thinkers question everything.
In an age of “fake news” claims and constant argument about pretty much any issue, critical thinking skills are key. Teach your students that it’s vital to ask questions about everything, but that it’s also important to ask the right sorts of questions. Students can use these critical thinking questions with fiction or nonfiction texts. They’re also useful when discussing important issues or trying to understand others’ motivations in general.
“Who” Critical Thinking Questions
Questions like these help students ponder who’s involved in a story and how the actions affect them. They’ll also consider who’s telling the tale and how reliable that narrator might be.
- Is the protagonist?
- Is the antagonist?
- Caused harm?
- Is harmed as a result?
- Was the most important character?
- Is responsible?
- Is most directly affected?
- Should have won?
- Will benefit?
- Would be affected by this?
- Makes the decisions?
“What” Critical Thinking Questions
Ask questions that explore issues more deeply, including those that might not be directly answered in the text.
- Background information do I know or need to know?
- Is the main message?
- Are the defining characteristics?
- Questions or concerns do I have?
- Don’t I understand?
- Evidence supports the author’s conclusion?
- Would it be like if … ?
- Could happen if … ?
- Other outcomes might have happened?
- Questions would you have asked?
- Would you ask the author about … ?
- Was the point of … ?
- Should have happened instead?
- Is that character’s motive?
- Else could have changed the whole story?
- Can you conclude?
- Would your position have been in that situation?
- Would happen if … ?
- Makes your position stronger?
- Was the turning point?
- Is the point of the question?
- Did it mean when … ?
- Is the other side of this argument?
- Was the purpose of … ?
- Does ______ mean?
- Is the problem you are trying to solve?
- Does the evidence say?
- Assumptions are you making?
- Is a better alternative?
- Are the strengths of the argument?
- Are the weaknesses of the argument?
- Is the difference between _______ and _______?
“Where” Critical Thinking Questions
Think about where the story is set and how it affects the actions. Plus, consider where and how you can learn more.
- Would this issue be a major problem?
- Are areas for improvement?
- Did the story change?
- Would you most often find this problem?
- Are there similar situations?
- Would you go to get answers to this problem?
- Can this be improved?
- Can you get more information?
- Will this idea take us?
“When” Critical Thinking Questions
Think about timing and the effect it has on the characters or people involved.
- Is this acceptable?
- Is this unacceptable?
- Does this become a problem?
- Is the best time to take action?
- Will we be able to tell if it worked?
- Is it time to reassess?
- Should we ask for help?
- Is the best time to start?
- Is it time to stop?
- Would this benefit society?
- Has this happened before?
“Why” Critical Thinking Questions
Asking “why” might be one of the most important parts of critical thinking. Exploring and understanding motivation helps develop empathy and make sense of difficult situations.
- Is _________ happening?
- Have we allowed this to happen?
- Should people care about this issue?
- Is this a problem?
- Did the character say … ?
- Did the character do … ?
- Is this relevant?
- Did the author write this?
- Did the author decide to … ?
- Is this important?
- Did that happen?
- Is it necessary?
- Do you think I (he, she, they) asked that question?
- Is that answer the best one?
- Do we need this today?
“How” Critical Thinking Questions
Use these questions to consider how things happen and whether change is possible.
- Do we know this is true?
- Does the language used affect the story?
- Would you solve … ?
- Is this different from other situations?
- Is this similar to … ?
- Would you use … ?
- Does the location affect the story?
- Could the story have ended differently?
- Does this work?
- Could this be harmful?
- Does this connect with what I already know?
- Else could this have been handled?
- Should they have responded?
- Would you feel about … ?
- Does this change the outcome?
- Did you make that decision?
- Does this benefit you/others?
- Does this hurt you/others?
- Could this problem be avoided?
More Critical Thinking Questions
Here are more questions to help probe further and deepen understanding.
- Can you give me an example?
- Do you agree with … ?
- Can you compare this with … ?
- Can you defend the actions of … ?
- Could this be interpreted differently?
- Is the narrator reliable?
- Does it seem too good to be true?
- Is ______ a fact or an opinion?
What are your favorite critical thinking questions? Come exchange ideas on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .
Plus, check out 10 tips for teaching kids to be awesome critical thinkers ..
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Sample Thinking Skills Questions
The sample skills test questions on this page are intended to illustrate the types of questions which might appear on a generic adult level reasoning skills test. However, the topics, reading levels, and degree of difficulty of the questions used on actual tests match the educational level and / or professional interests of the population for which a given test is designed. Many of these tests include a greater proportion of items which call for numeracy, as illustrated by Sample Item #6. To view a specific test, qualified purchasers should purchase the preview pack for the test most appropriate for use with their intended test takers.
Instructions : Form a reflective and reasoned judgment with regard to which choice is the best from among those offered.
Background for Sample Thinking Skills Questions 1-3
Sample Thinking Skills Question #1.
If true, these research findings would tend to support which of the following assertions?
A = A college woman cannot achieve optimal health functioning without a teammate. B = Universities should require all students living in campus residence halls to participate in a health regime of smart eating and regular vigorous exercise. C = A healthy diet will cause one to have better mental health and physical strength. D = This research study was funded by a corporation that makes exercise apparel. E = A regimen of smart eating and regular exercise is related to better health.
Sample Thinking Skills Question #2.
If the information given in the case above were true, which of the following hypotheses would not need to be ruled out in order to confidently claim that for the majority of young adults a regimen of smart eating and regular vigorous exercise will result in significant improvements in one’s overall health.
Sample Thinking Skills Question #3.
Consider the claim, “Working with a teammate or partners on a health regimen is better than working individually.” Which of the following additional pieces of information would not weaken that claim?
A = Most of the women in the group that was encouraged to work individually actually worked with friends and partners who were not part of the study. B = Most of the pairings and teams created in the first group (with teammates) fell apart after a few days and the women in that group actually worked individually. C = There was something about the women in the first group (with teammates) that the researchers overlooked, thus invalidating the intended matching of the two groups. D = Men are more likely to work alone, so any recommendation that men find a teammate or partner to support them in sticking with the regimen will be ignored. E = The study was undertaken when there were no exams or major projects due, thus the results about working with a teammate do not apply to more stressful times of the year.
Sample Thinking Skills Question #4.
A = Carol and Barbara deserved to receive “pass with distinction” like Anna. B = Barbara’s work in the program was superior to Carol’s. C = Barbara was jealous of the academic success her friend, Anna, enjoyed. D = Deirdre’s work in the program was below the quality of Carol’s work. E = Anna, being successful, will decide to enroll in another advanced graduate program
Sample Thinking Skills Question #5.
A = strong. It shows the arguments for reducing petroleum vehicle fuels are weak. B = strong. The speaker is very clear about what he believes and why he believes it. C = weak. The speaker probably owns stock in Exxon or some other oil company. D = weak. The speaker ignored the environmental argument entirely.
Sample Thinking Skills Question #6.
A = Use Ed’s Phone Repair Shop down the street. Ed can replace Sylvia’s phone by 10:30 a.m. Ed will charge the firm $500. B = Assign Sylvia to a different project until her phone can be replaced with one from the firm’s current inventory. Replacing the phone is handled by the night shift. C = Authorize Sylvia to buy a new phone during her lunch hour for $75 knowing she can plug it in and have it working within a few minutes after she gets back to her desk at 1:00 p.m. D = Ask Sylvia to try to repair her phone herself. She will probably complete the repair by 2:00 p.m.; or maybe later.
How can I learn more about critical thinking?
For more information on critical thinking and the relationship between critical thinking skills and strong positive critical thinking habits of mind download a free copy of “ Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why it Counts ” by Dr. Peter Facione.
How can I develop stronger critical thinking?
How can I improve my thinking mindset?
Click here for sample items for measuring thinking mindset attributes?
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48 Critical Thinking Questions For Any Content Area
What Are Critical Thinking Questions For Any Content Area?
by TeachThought Staff
Critical thinking is the heart and soul of learning, and–in our estimation anyway–ultimately more important than any one specific content area or subject matter.
It’s also an over-used and rather nebulous phrase — how do you teach someone to think? Of course, that’s the purpose of education, but how do you effectively optimize that concept into lasting knowledge and the ability to apply it broadly?
Looking for more resources to teach critical thinking? Check out our critical thinking curricula resources on TpT.
What Is Critical Thinking?
This question is what inspires the creation of seemingly endless learning taxonomies and teaching methods: our desire to pin down a clear definition of what it means to think critically and how to introduce that skill in the classroom.
This makes critical thinking questions–well, critical. As Terry Heick explains in What Does Critical Thinking Mean?:
“To think critically about something is to claim to first circle its meaning entirely—to walk all the way around it so that you understand it in a way that’s uniquely you. The thinker works with their own thinking tools–schema. Background knowledge. Sense of identity. Meaning Making is a process as unique to that thinker as their own thumbprint. There is no template.
After circling the meaning of whatever you’re thinking critically about—navigation necessarily done with bravado and purpose—the thinker can then analyze the thing. In thinking critically, the thinker has to see its parts, its form, its function, and its context.
After this kind of survey and analysis you can come to evaluate it–bring to bear your own distinctive cognition on the thing so that you can point out flaws, underscore bias, emphasize merit—to get inside the mind of the author, designer, creator, or clockmaker and critique his work.”
A Cheat Sheet For Critical Thinking
In short, critical thinking is more than understanding something — it involves evaluation, critiquing, and a depth of knowledge that surpasses the subject itself and expands outward. It requires problem-solving, creativity, rationalization, and a refusal to accept things at face value.
It’s a willingness and ability to question everything.
The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Digital Thinking by Global Digital Citizen Foundation is an excellent starting point for the ‘how’ behind teaching critical thinking by outlining which questions to ask.
It offers 48 critical thinking questions useful for any content area or even grade level with a little re-working/re-wording. Enjoy the list!
48 Critical Thinking Questions For Any Content Area
See Also: 28 Critical Thinking Question Stems & Response Cards
About The Author
85 Fun Critical Thinking Questions for Kids & Teens
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Have you ever thought about using fun questions to practice critical thinking?
Students may need a little guidance to think their way through questions that lack straightforward answers.
But it is that process that is important!
How the Right Questions Encourage Critical Thinking
Every parent knows how natural it is for children to ask questions.
It should be encouraged. After all, asking questions helps with critical thinking.
As they grow older, however, training them to answer questions can be equally beneficial.
Posing questions that encourage kids to analyze, compare, and evaluate information can help them develop their ability to think critically about tough topics in the future.
Of course, critical thinking questions for kids need to be age-appropriate—even better if you can mix a little fun into it!
That’s what I hope to help you with today. I’ve organized the questions below into three different ages groups:
- Upper elementary
- Middle school
- High school
Get a Question-Based Critical Thinking Exercise—Free!
Introduce critical thinking gently & easily with thought-provoking exercises.
Students in upper elementary grades can be reluctant to put themselves out there, especially with answers that seem weird.
In some cases, such hesitancy is actually fear of differing from their peers (and a barrier to critical thinking ).
But that’s exactly why it’s important to practice answering ambiguous questions.
We want our children to stand firm for their beliefs—not cave to peer pressure.
Additionally, students may feel uneasy about answering serious questions, uncertain of tackling “big” problems.
However, with careful use of creative questions for kids, it’s possible to engage even the most reluctant children in this age group.
The idea is to simply get them interested in the conversation and questions asked.
If you have an especially reserved student, try starting with the funny critical thinking questions.
Humor is a natural icebreaker that can make critical thinking questions more lighthearted and enjoyable.
Of course, most younger kids just like to be silly, so playing upon that can keep them active and engaged.
With that said, here are some great questions to get you started:
1. Someone gives you a penguin. You can’t sell it or give it away. What do you do with it?
2. What would it be like if people could fly?
3. If animals could talk, what question would you ask?
4. If you were ice cream, what kind would you be and why?
5. Do you want to travel back in time? If yes, how far back would you go? If no, why not?
6. What could you invent that would help your family?
7. If you could stay up all night, what would you do?
8. What does the man on the moon do during the day?
9. What makes something weird or normal?
10. Can you describe the tastes “salty” and “sweet” without using those words?
11. What does it feel like to ride a rollercoaster?
12. What makes a joke funny?
13. What two items would you take if you knew you would be stranded on an island and why?
14. Do you have a favorite way of laughing?
15. What noise makes you cringe and cover your ears? Why?
16. If you could be the parent for the day, what would you do?
17. If you could jump into your favorite movie and change the outcome, which one would you pick and why?
18. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
19. What makes a day “perfect”?
20. If you owned a store, what kind of products would you sell?
21. If your parents were your age, would you be friends with them?
22. Would you still like your favorite food if it tasted the same as always, but now had an awful smell?
23. What would you do if you forgot to put your shoes on before leaving home?
24. Who would you be if you were a cartoon character?
25. How many hot dogs do you think you could eat in one sitting?
26. If you could breathe under water, what would you explore?
27. At what age do you think you stop being a kid?
28. If you had springs in your legs, what would you be able to do?
29. Can you describe the color blue to someone if they’re blind?
At this point, students start to acquire more complex skills and are able to form their own conclusions based on the information they’re given.
However, we can’t expect deep philosophical debates with 12 and 13 year olds.
That said, as parent-teachers, we can certainly begin using more challenging questions to help them examine and rationalize their thought processes.
Browse the fun critical thinking questions below for students in this age range.
You might be surprised to see how receptive middle school kids can be to such thought-provoking (yet still fun) questions .
30. What would happen if it really did rain cats and dogs?
31. What does it mean to be lucky?
32. If you woke up in the middle of a dream, where would you be?
33. Is it ever okay to lie? Why or why not?
34. If you were solely responsible for creating laws, what one law would you make?
35. What makes a person a good friend?
36. What do you think is the most important skill you can take into adulthood?
37. If you had to give up lunch or dinner, which would you choose? Why?
38. How much money would you need to be considered rich?
39. If you knew you wouldn’t get caught, would you cheat on a test?
40. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?
41. What is your greatest strength? How is that an asset?
42. If you had an opportunity to visit the International Space Station, would you do it?
43. Is it better to keep the peace or speak your mind?
44. Imagine yourself as your favorite animal. How would you spend your day?
45. Would you be friends with someone who didn’t have the same values as you?
46. How much screen time do you think is too much?
47. Can you describe your favorite color without naming it?
48. If you suddenly became blind, would you see things differently?
49. Would you ever go skydiving?
50. Describe the time you were the happiest in your life. Why did this make you happy?
51. If you had a million dollars, what would you do?
52. If you had to move to a new city, would you change how you present yourself to others?
53. What do you need to do in order to be famous?
54. If you could rewrite the ending of your favorite book or movie, what changes would you make?
55. How would you tackle a huge goal?
56. How would you sell ice to an eskimo in Alaska successfully?
57. What makes you unique?
Critical thinking takes on an entirely different role once students reach high school.
At this age, they have a greater sense of right and wrong (and what makes things so) as well as a better understanding of the world’s challenges.
Guiding teens to delve deeper and contemplate such things is an important part of developing their reasoning and critical thinking skills.
Whether it’s fun questions about hypothetical superpowers or tough critical thinking questions about life, older teens typically have what it takes to think their way to a logical conclusion .
Of course, use your discernment as you choose discussion topics, but here are some questions to help get you started:
58. How can you avoid [common problem] in the future?
59. Do you think it’s okay to take a life in order to save 5, 10, 20 or more people?
60. If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would it be?
61. Is it better to give or receive a gift?
62. How important is it to be financially secure? Why?
63. If it was up to you, what one rule would you change in your family?
64. What would you do if a group of friends wanted to do something that you thought was a bad idea?
65. How do you know that something is a fact rather than an opinion?
66. What would it take to get you to change your mind?
67. What’s the most important thing in your life?
68. If money were of no concern, what job would you choose and why?
69. How do you know if you’re happy?
70. Do you think euthanasia is moral?
71. What is something you can do today that you weren’t able to do a year ago?
72. Is social media a good thing or not?
73. Is it right to keep animals in a zoo?
74. How does your attitude affect your abilities?
75. What would you do if you found out a friend was doing something dangerous?
76. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
77. What will life on Earth look like in 50 years?
78. Which is more important, ending world hunger or global warming?
79. Is it a good idea to lower the voting age to 16? Why or why not?
80. If the electrical power went out today, how would you cook if using wood wasn’t an option?
81. If you could magically transport yourself to any other place, where would that be and why?
82. When should teenagers be able to stay out all night?
83. Does the number zero actually exist?
84. What defines a generous person?
85. Does an influential person influence everyone?
Feel free to print out these fun critical thinking questions and incorporate them into your homeschool week!
will your children recognize truth?
About the author.
- Defining Critical Thinking
- A Brief History of the Idea of Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Basic Questions & Answers
- Our Conception of Critical Thinking
- Sumner’s Definition of Critical Thinking
- Research in Critical Thinking
- Critical Societies: Thoughts from the Past
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Questions to Provoke Critical Thinking
Varying question stems can sustain engagement and promote critical thinking. The timing, sequence and clarity of questions you ask students can be as important as the type of question you ask. The table below is organized to help formulate questions provoking gradually higher levels of thinking.
1 From Alison King, “Inquiring Minds Really Do Want to Know: Using Questioning to Teach Critical Thinking,” Teaching of Psychology 22 (1995): 14.
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101 Questions for Kids to Get Them Thinking and Talking [all open-ended]
How can you have more meaningful conversations with your kids? How can you use these conversations to also build up their skills to prepare them for their future? What questions are quick and fun to ask but also get them thinking critically, logically and laterally?
We have done the hard work so you don't have to! Here are 101 questions for kids that will get them "thinking and talking" - helping you get to know your child with more meaningful conversations, and at the same time building the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow's world (e.g. critical thinking, communication, creativity etc).
It's perfect for 6-12 year olds and can be done whenever you have a few minutes. Parents we work with tend to have these chats in the car, or after school or at the dinner table.
See the KidCoachApp that thousands of other parents have been using to have all this and more in the palm of your hand, but in the meantime enjoy the list below.
Critical thinking questions
1. How many iPads do you think there are in the world?
2. How many grains of sand do you think there are on a typical beach?
3. What would you do with a million dollars?
4. If you could go back and time and change one thing, what would it be and why?
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
6. Is there life on other planets?
7. What would you name a new colour?
8. What are 10 different things you can do a cup?
9. How would you improve a sofa to make it better?
10. When Baby Shark grows up, will he still be called Baby Shark?
11. What would happen if it never rained?
12. How can you make £100 or $100 by next week if you wanted to?
If you are particularly interested in critical thinking then this ultimate guide to developing critical thinking skills in your kids is a must-read.
Debating questions for kids
13. Should children set their own bedtimes?
14. Do you need teachers at school or can you just learn from computers?
15. Is it right to eat animals?
16. Should everyone donate money to charity?
17. Should children have to wear school uniforms?
18. Should children choose what to learn at school themselves?
19. Does Santa Claus only bring presents for good children?
20. Should zoos be banned since they are unfair to animals?
21. Should children be paid if they get good grades?
22. Is social media a good or a bad thing?
23. Should every child have their own mobile phone?
Fun communication challenges
24. How would you describe a car to an alien?
25. How would you describe a tree without saying green, plant or leaves?
26. What is a rectangle?
27. How would you describe an elephant without saying animal, trunk or grey?
28. What is a circle?
29. Can you name 10 different emotions?
30. What is the number five?
31. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
32. Can you talk for one minute about anything without saying “umm” or “err”?
33. Can you say “Hello” in three different accents?
For more fun talking game ideas, check out this list of 22 car games to keep kids entertained using only your voices!
Alternatives to “How was your day?”
34. What was the best thing that happened to you today?
35. What will you do tomorrow that you did not do today?
36. Tell me about something new that you learned today?
37. What made you laugh today?
38. Who did you play with today?
39. What did you eat for lunch?
40. What kind of a person were you today?
41. What made your teacher smile today?
42. What made you really proud today?
43. What questions did you ask the teacher today?
44. What do you think your teacher will be doing tonight?
Would you rather questions?
45. Would you rather find true love or win one million dollars?
46. Would you rather end poverty or end racism?
47. Would you rather be gossiped about or ignored?
48. Would you rather be an ant or a fly?
49. Would you rather be able to fly or have super strength?
50. Would you rather be 1 foot taller or 1 foot shorter?
51. Would you rather be more like Mum or more like Dad?
52. Would you rather be the sand castle or the wave?
53. Would you rather live to 100 years old sad or live to 50 years old but happy?
54. Would you rather live without TV or live without internet?
We have lots more of these by the way in this 101 list of the BEST "would you rather...?" questions for kids.
Try these with Harry Potter fans!
55. Which Hogwarts house would you be sorted into and why? (critical thinking)
56. If you owned the Philosopher's stone and could live forever, what would you do? (creativity)
57. What make Harry Potter a good leader? (leadership)
58. Is Professor Snape on the good side or the bad side? (critical thinking)
59. Why do wizards hide themselves away from muggles? (philosophy)
60. How would you explain the game of quidditch to a muggle? (communication)
61. Why are most wizards scared to say "Lord Voldemort" out aloud? (empathy)
62. How do dementors make you feel? (mindfulness)
63. If you were an animagus and could turn into any animal, which would you choose and why? (creativity)
64. Which magical object would you choose to have and why - marauders map, time turner or invisibility cloak? (critical thinking)
65 . What makes Dumbledore such a good headmaster? (leadership)
Get to know you interview questions
66. What are your three greatest strengths?
67. What is your favourite subject?
68. What makes you different?
69. What are your three greatest weaknesses?
70. Who do you want to be like when you grow up?
71. What is happening in the book you are reading right now?
72. What will be different about the world when you are an adult?
73. What is going on in the news at the moment?
74. Who are your best friends and why do you like each other?
75. What is the funniest thing you have ever done?
76. What motivates you?
To build resilience
77. What is a growth mindset?
78. What do you feel grateful for today?
79. What is something you can do today that you couldn’t last year?
80. What does a confident person look and sound like?
81. What do you worry about the most?
82. What are you better at than most other people?
83. What do you love to learn?
84. What make you happy?
85. How important is winning?
86. What is your best quality?
87. What do you find really easy to do?
88. What can you teach others?
Perfect for family dinners
89. What is your favourite dessert?
90. If you could just eat one food forever what would it be?
91. Where shall we go on holiday next?
92. What is one thing you admire about the person on your left?
93. What animal are you most like and why?
94. If you could swap places with anybody else in the family for one day, who would you pick and why?
95. Tell us something about yourself that we probably don’t know?
96. If you could have one wish what would it be?
97. What is the hardest thing about being a child?
98. What three words best describe you?
99. What three things do we want to do as a family next month?
100. If you could choose a new name, what would it be?
101. What will we all be doing in 20 years time?
A final suggestion
If you liked this then why not check out the KidCoachApp (30 second demo video above) which has everything from this article and much more in it, all regularly updated!
It puts these great questions in the palm of your hand and the next time you are in need of some conversation inspiration all you have to do is whip out the app! There are hundreds of critical thinking questions for kids that need logical and lateral thinking to answer.🤔
We are backed by lots of education and parenting experts (see our Advisory Board here ) and parents have absolutely loved using the KidCoachApp (see the reviews here ).
It's a 2 week free trial, with no payment details needed, so you have nothing to lose. 👍
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Kavin Wadhar is a parent of 2 kids and founder of www.KidCoach.app: guided conversations for parents to get their kids talking, thinking and feeling. Kavin left his corporate role in education publishing to pursue his passion to help parents develop in their kids the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s world. Working with a team of parents and education experts, Kavin has built an App for parents with hundreds of questions like those in this article, and with additional guidance / prompts to take conversations deeper. Check it out!
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