70+ Open-Ended Questions For Kids To Express Their Opinions
Engaging in the right questions with your child can help you get an insight into their lives.
Aadithyan Mohan K.
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In This Article
Even if you try your best, it may not be easy to get your children to open up about their feelings or thoughts. However, if you want them to interact with you rather than just saying ‘good’ or ‘okay’ when asked about their day, then some open-ended questions for children might do the trick. Children often reply with monosyllabic responses. Be it in the car or at the dinner table, getting them to have a complete and hearty conversation can be difficult. So read as we have provided a list of fun and interesting questions for children to make them express their opinions, including their likes and dislikes.
70+ Open-Ended Questions For Kids
- Which of your friends do you admire and why?
- How do you show people you care?
- If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do?
- What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re outside?
- How do you think the world will be when you’re an adult?
- What are a few things that make you laugh?
- What was your favorite part of the day?
- What inspires you to study hard?
- If you could change something about your school, what would it be?
- Which subject do you enjoy the most, and why?
- What are your five best traits?
- If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
- What privileges are you looking forward to the most about growing up?
- What is your favorite thing about yourself?
- Why did you choose to read that book?
- In the book you’re reading, what do you think will happen next?
- What’s your biggest fear? How do you plan to get over it?
- What’s the most challenging part about being a child?
- Why do you think God always wants us to tell the truth?
- What would you do if you made the rules at home?
- You made a mistake in your puzzle. What could we have done instead?
- What superhero powers would you want to have?
- What’s your favorite room in the house and why?
- If someone gave you $50, what would you do with it?
- If you could sit anywhere in class, where would it be?
- If you were me for a day, what would you do?
- What do you think about when you wake up?
- What’s your favorite place in the world?
- What do you love most about the place you live and why?
- What is something that you want but don’t want to ask for, and why?
- Describe a great day. What makes it special?
- If you could join the circus, what would your act be?
- What’s the best way to help someone in school?
- What did you learn today that you didn’t know before?
- Would you rather be the best in sports or academics? Why?
- Do you have a favorite teacher? Why are they your favorite?
- What three things would you grab if the house were on fire?
- If you could go on vacation now, where would you go and why?
- If we go to the beach over the weekend, what would you do there?
- Do you like nature? What appeals to you the most about it?
- Which new language would you like to learn?
- What time of day is your favorite?
- Name a few things you would want to be when you grow up.
- What are a few things you cannot live without, and why?
- If you could change one thing about your room, what would it be?
- How would you like to spend a day off from school?
- If you could have any three wishes granted, what would they be?
- What is something you are really good at?
- What’s a memory that makes you happy?
- What’s the hardest part about going to school?
- What are you thankful for in your life?
- What are a few things that make your family special?
- What’s something you’d like to change about your routine?
- What did you learn at school today?
- If you could stay up all night, what would you do?
- If you could trade places with any friend, who would you choose and why?
- What do you like doing with your friends?
- What would you do if someone asked you to do something you didn’t want to do?
- If you had to live with a cartoon character, who would you pick?
- If you could be the best at anything, what would you choose and why?
- What would you like to become after you graduate from high school?
- Math or science—which subject do you prefer and why?
- Who is your favorite anime character, and why?
- What food could you eat every day and never get tired of it?
- Did you draw, write, or build anything today? Describe it!
- If you opened a store, what would you sell?
- What’s your favorite form of outdoor play and indoor play?
- What did you do that was creative?
- What did you do that involved complex thinking?
- What’s your advice for parents?
- Who are your good friends, and why do you like them?
- What is your favorite conversation topic with parents?
- What’s your favorite family tradition?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are open-ended questions important for children?
Open-minded questions are important for children because they (1)
- Encourage them to use more vocabulary to give long answers
- Allow them to think about the details before answering
- Help them express thoughts and opinions
- Make them more imaginative and creative
- Develop problem-solving and intellectual skills
- Help build relationships
2. What do most open-ended questions start with?
Most open-ended questions start with questions words such as “why” and “how”, and phrases such as “tell me about” (1).
Children don’t open up to their parents, provided they know their parents will listen to them patiently without any judgments and assumptions. If you want to start a conversation with your child, these open-ended questions for children are a great way to let them express their thoughts, emotions, and feelings. You can tweak the questions wherever needed to suit the context and have an open, meaningful conversation. Initially, your child might feel hesitant, but encouraging them to talk will spark open conversations to help you understand them better.
References
- Benefits of Open-Ended Questions.
https://www.seattleymca.org/blog/benefits-open-ended-questions
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