Parents and Au Pairs know that getting kids talking isn’t always easy. Sometimes, the usual “How was your day?” just doesn’t cut it. When you’re looking for creative ways to spark chit-chat, posing hypothetical dilemmas can be just the thing. These types of questions inspire creativity, encourage critical thinking, and strengthen conversation skills. In this blog, we’ll provide some of our favorite children’s “Would you rather?” questions that are sure to spark a group dialogue!
8 Fun Categories of “Would You Rather?” Questions for Kids and Au Pairs
From driving to soccer tournaments and family road trips to boosting morale before a dentist visit, there are many times you’ll want to entertain/distract/connect with your children. Having several categories of “Would you rather?” questions for kids ready to go can help you match the moment.
1. Silly and Funny Questions
Need to lighten the mood after a volleyball game that didn’t go your kids’ way? Or, maybe you just love laughing with your cuties (humor strengthens the bond between parent and child, after all!) Here are funny “Would you rather?” questions for kids that will crack everyone up.
- Would you rather have feet for hands or hands for feet?
- Would you rather be tickled for an hour or have a wedgie all day?
- Would you rather have a body covered in hair (even your face!) or have no hair?
- Would you rather have porcupine needles or shed your skin like a snake?
- Would you rather have grandma’s hair or wear grandpa’s clothes all year?
- Would you rather get caught picking your nose or scratching your butt?
Laughter really is the best medicine, so having these questions in your back pocket is the perfect way to brighten your munchkins’ day.
2. Animal-Themed Questions
Headed to the zoo for the day? Get everyone excited about the creatures they’ll see with these animal-themed “Would you rather” questions.
- Would you rather be able to read animals’ minds or have them read your mind?
- Would you rather be a lion or a lizard?
- Would you rather pet a tarantula or a snake?
- Would you rather have wings or tentacles?
- Would you rather ride an ostrich or a dolphin?
- Would you rather be as strong as a gorilla or as fast as a cheetah?
- Would you rather live in the zoo or in the jungle?
- Would you rather see a giant ladybug or a tiny hippo?
The animal lovers in your household will enjoy pondering these wild choices!
3. Food-Related Questions
Want to get everyone’s mouth watering after a game of “Would you rather? For kids who love grub, it doesn’t get better than these food-related dilemmas.
- Would you rather only eat (insert their favorite food here) forever or never eat it again?
- Would you rather eat pork-flavored ice cream or broccoli-flavored cookies?
- Would you rather be allergic to cupcakes or candy?
- Would you rather eat super spicy food or super sour food?
- Would you rather give up French fries forever or pizza forever?
- Would you rather eat at a new restaurant every day or at your favorite restaurant every day?
- Would you rather swim in a pool of melted cheese or BBQ sauce?
- Would you rather have to eat everything with just a spoon or just a knife?
Your little foodies will work up an appetite debating these decisions.
4. Adventure and Travel Questions
Enjoying a family road trip or chaperoning the school field trip? Ignite young explorers’ imaginations with these journey-centric questions.
- Would you rather travel back in time or forward in time?
- Would you rather travel to a new place every summer or stay in town and get an extra month of vacation?
- Would you rather travel the world for free as long as you want or get a million dollars?
- Would you rather go everywhere by train or by submarine?
- Would you rather visit a big city or a remote island?
- Would you rather visit 100 places in a year or live in one other place for a year?
- Would you rather stay in a really fancy hotel room or fly first class?
These questions are the perfect way to reduce travel anxiety for first-time fliers or simply get everyone excited about the trip ahead!
5. Superpowers and Fantasy Questions
If your kids are in that superhero/magic world phase, they’ll love thinking about what life would be like with their own special powers. Here are some questions to activate their imagination.
- Would you rather be able to teleport or become invisible?
- Would you rather be a unicorn or a mermaid?
- Would you rather be super strong or super fast?
- Would you rather be Batman or Spider-Man?
- Would you rather be able to control the weather or time?
- Would you rather live in the Marvel world or the Harry Potter world?
- Would you rather everyone knew about your superpowers, or nobody knew?
Whether you’re headed to a superhero-centric theme park or a new superhero movie, these questions will get everyone buzzing with excitement!
6. Sports & Outdoor Fun Questions
Have active kids? Lean into their love of sports and outdoor play with these delightful questions.
- Would you rather be a well-paid player on a team that always loses or a poorly-paid player on a team that always wins?
- Would you rather be famous for one amazing play or for a long career of consistent plays?
- Would you rather run for 10 minutes or do jumping jacks for 10 minutes?
- Would you rather be a fast swimmer or a fast runner?
- Would you rather complete a marathon in the desert or in the mountains?
- Would you rather your family watch your games on TV or in person?
- Would you rather be a coach or a referee?
- Would you rather play a team sport or an individual sport?
- Would you rather play sports on a really cold day or a really hot day?
- Would you rather have cool uniforms and an old stadium or a cool, new stadium and old uniforms?
Your little athletes will be itching to get out there and play their favorite sport after answering these questions.
7. Friendship & Social Choices
Childhood is when we develop social skills and learn how to be a good friend. So toss these questions out to your kiddos to help them discover what type of buddy they want to be.
- Would you rather have lots of sort of good friends, or a few really good friends?
- Would you rather have new friends every year or the same friends forever?
- Would you rather have friends all your same age or all different ages?
- Would you rather have a friend who always tells you the truth, even if it’s hard to hear, or who lies to you to protect your feelings?
- Would you rather have a friend who is really funny or really kind?
- Would you rather be with friends all day long or for just one hour a week?
- Would you rather have a friend who is a great listener or one who tells great stories?
Questions like these can help you understand if your sweet pea is an introvert or an extrovert and what they value in their relationships.
8. Ethical Dilemma Questions (Child-Friendly)
Giving youngsters ethical dilemmas to work through helps boost their critical thinking skills and helps them understand their morals. Here are some to get them started.
- Would you rather tell on a friend for cheating on a test and lose the friendship, or say nothing and keep the friendship?
- Would you rather tell a friend you don’t like their haircut or lie and say you do like it?
- Would you rather wear a sweater you got as a gift but don’t like, or not wear it and hurt the gift giver’s feelings?
- Would you rather keep the money if a cashier accidentally gave you too much change or speak up and give it back?
- Would you rather pretend to be sick to miss a test you aren’t ready for or take the test and fail?
- Would you rather read someone’s diary if you found it open or shut it and walk away?
- Would you rather follow a rule, even if you don’t agree with it, or break the rule if you think it’s the right thing to do?
Some of these questions are better for older children who are developing their sense of right and wrong in the world, while others are light-hearted enough for little kids.
How and Where to Ask “Would You Rather?” Questions
Whether you’re looking to promote bonding, ease anxieties, or just bust boredom, there are tons of times you’ll be glad to have “Would you rather?” questions in your back pocket.
Family Game Night
“Would you rather?” questions can help kick off game night or add some entertainment during slow periods. For example, if a game involves taking turns rolling dice, you can ask a child, “Would you rather be the first to roll the dice or get to skip someone who is next to roll the dice later in the game?”
Playing a slow game? While one person is planning their next move (like picking out a Jenga piece), you can throw “Would you rather?” questions out to the group to keep energy levels high. You can also incorporate these questions when it’s time to hand out rewards. Ask the winner, “Would you rather have a small prize all to yourself or a big prize that you’ll share with your siblings?”
Road Trips and Travel Games
Taking a family road trip? Your crew might be excited about the destination but not so much the car time. So prepare some “Would you rather?” questions kids can answer on the road. They can be drive-related questions like, “Would you rather pull over every 15 minutes or every 5 hours?” and “Would you rather make up a story together, or listen to a story on an audiobook?”
Party and Sleepover Fun
Is your kid hosting their first sleepover? “Would you rather” questions can alleviate nervousness for little ones sleeping away from home. You can ask pleasant or goofy questions while you tuck the kids in at night. Or, if you’re waiting for the pizza to arrive, you can ask humorous questions to keep those “We’re hungry!” complaints at bay.
Brain Breaks and Indoor Activities
Are your kids studying for a big exam, like the SAT or finals? Taking frequent breaks can help the brain absorb new information. So, put a pause on academics every hour or so and refresh everyone with some “Would you rather?” questions.
If the rain ruined your plans to spend the day outdoors, you might be dealing with some cooped-up kids. Present them with some challenging either/or questions to keep them entertained.
Writing and Storytelling Prompts
Whether small kids have to write a short story or high schoolers have to write a thesis, writer’s block happens to everybody. “Would you rather?” questions can help get those wheels turning, activating the creative side of the brain and promoting critical thinking skills.
These questions can even help young students determine what to write about. For example, you can ask, “Would you rather write about this period of history or that one?” or “Would you rather write a fantasy short story or one that’s more realistic?”
Online or Virtual Play
If you’re a parent who is homeschooling, incorporate these either/or questions into structuring your study plan. You can ask questions like, “Would you rather start the day with the easier subjects or the harder ones?” or “Would you rather take a verbal quiz or a written quiz?”
Encouraging kids to join in on virtual calls with family? They might not always know what to say. Posing a This-or-That question can welcome them into the conversation. 
Benefits of Playing “Would You Rather?” for Kids, Au Pairs, and Host Families
There’s no denying that “Would you rather?” questions are a lot of fun! You’ll love seeing everyone light up as they come up with their answers and deliberate over who’s best. But these tough choice questions aren’t just there to pass the time. They offer some terrific benefits for kids and caretakers alike, including:
- Encouraging critical thinking skills: Some of the more challenging questions will require kids to think through multiple scenarios, weighing pros and cons.
- Boosting creativity & imagination: The more open-ended/fantasy-based questions give kids a chance to get creative and use their imagination in new ways.
- Developing communication skills: Articulating why they arrive at their answer can help little ones develop communication skills that will benefit them in school and socializing.
- Strengthening family bonds: Anytime you get your children to talk to you for extended periods, your bonds are strengthening. When “normal” conversation isn’t happening, wacky/silly questions can open everyone up!
- Encouraging open conversations: Your kids’ answers give you a look into how their brains work, helping you understand what matters most to them, what excites them, and what concerns them. That can facilitate meaningful conversations.
- Screen-free quality time: After a long day of work/school, it can be hard to think of ways to unwind together that don’t involve a screen. “Would you rather?” questions are nice and easy way to engage without a remote control.
- Simple fun for any setting: As a parent, you probably find yourself grasping at ways to distract/entertain kids all of the time. Whether you’re waiting at the doctor’s office or sitting in traffic, when you don’t have physical games, you can ask this-or-that questions. They don’t require any supplies and are always there when you need them!
Host families can provide Au Pairs with a list of “Would you rather?” questions for various situations/settings and encourage them to add to it!
Tips for Getting the Most from “Would You Rather?” Questions
The game can get stale if you play “Would you rather?” often. So here are some tips for keeping this activity lively!
- Adjust the questions for the age group. Teens can handle more complex questions, while little kids will love playful/funny questions.
- Encourage kids to explain their reasoning. It will extend the game and spark some healthy debate while other children disagree with the answers given.
- Turning it into a group activity or challenge. You can go around in a circle and challenge each kid to ask a “tougher” question than the last.
Host families can touch base with Au Pairs after games and ask if they learned anything new/interesting about the children. It’s a great way for parents and Au Pairs to discuss how they see kids evolving/growing.
Ready to Start the Fun? Try “Would You Rather?” for Host Families and Au Pairs
Children are still finding their way in social settings, especially around new people. They aren’t going to discuss travel plans or job-related stress like adults, so they need another way to break the ice. “Would you rather?” questions are an amusing and effective way to get kids chatting. Plus, with so many topics to dive into, from animals and food to travel and ethics, you’ll never run out of things to talk about.
These dilemma questions are also a nice way to help kids get to know a new Au Pair and for the Au Pair to get to know your kids. Plus, Au Pairs can pull out “Would you rather?” questions whenever they need to distract, entertain, or uplift your cuties. If you’re ready to welcome an Au Pair into your home who will blend in well with your family, register at Go Au Pair today.
We’ll begin the matching process, finding you an Au Pair who shares your values. Au Pairs can be invaluable additions to your household, filling in when you’re busy or not home and providing you with insights into your kids’ growth and development. Contact us today to discover all the ways an Au Pair can enrich your little ones’ lives!
