April 11, 2024

Beyond One-Word Answers: Best Questions to Ask Little Kids for Dinner Time Discovery

Ever find yourself playing detective at dinner, trying to crack the case of what happened in the world of your 3-foot-tall human that day? If "fine" and "good" have become the extent of your dinner conversation and you're craving a little more, then get ready! We can help you turn those one-word answers into a few laughs, insights, and maybe even a few surprise answers with the best questions to ask little kids.

little girl at dinner table playing a game of questions with her parents

Let’s break the ice with questions that not only open the door to your child's mind but also pepper a little fun into your normal dinner time routine. Remember, the key here isn’t just to ask questions but to listen—to really listen—to the tiny humans sharing your table. Who knows? You might just discover a budding astronaut or a secret spaghetti-hater in the process.

Dinner is a perfect opportunity to build self-esteem in children. By listening to what children have to say, you are saying, "I value what you do; I respect who you are and what you're doing; what you do is important to me.
                        - Standford Children's Medicine
35 questions to ask your little kid at dinner
Tips for Engaging Your Little Ones At Dinner Time

Of course, these questions are perfect for sparking engaging conversations at any moment, but the dinner table often provides the ideal setting to "pop the question." Here, you've got a captive audience, making it easier to focus and genuinely listen to one another. Plus, there's something special about gathering around the table and sharing stories—it's incredibly bonding. To ensure it feels like a warm exchange rather than an interrogation, we suggest posing one question a night. Starting with a parent or older sibling often gets the ball rolling, especially for younger kids. They start thinking about their own answers while listening to others, bubbling with excitement to share their thoughts. You'll discover what rhythm suits your family's dynamic best, but this approach has consistently yielded fantastic results. So, without further ado, here's our compilation of the best questions to ask little kids.

 The Best Questions To Ask Little Kids “What If”
  1. If you could be any animal for a day, which one would you choose, and what's the first thing you'd do?
  2. Imagine you have a superpower. What is it, and how would you use it to help people?
  3. If you could grow anything in our backyard, what would it be and why?
  4. If your stuffed animals could talk, what would they say to us at dinner?
  5. What if you could invent a new color? What would it look like and what would you name it?
  6. If you could build anything out of LEGO, what would you create?
  7. Suppose you found a treasure chest. What’s inside it?
  8. If you could make up a new holiday, what would it celebrate?

 

    Dive Into Their Day: Encouraging Storytelling
    1. What made you laugh today?
    2. Who did you play with today, and what did you play?
    3. Tell me about something kind you did for someone else.
    4. What do you like most about your teacher?
    5. What was the yummiest thing you ate today?
    6. Did anything make you feel frustrated or sad?

    7. Can you tell me about a new word you learned today? 

     

      Little Philosophers: Pondering the Big (and Small) Questions
      1. Where do you think your dreams come from?
      2. If you could ask a wild animal any question, what would you ask?
      3. Do you have a lucky number or sign?(example rainbow, clover, butterfly)
      4. If you could give everyone in the world one gift, what would it be?
      5. What makes someone a good friend?
      6. How do you think plants feel when we water them?

      7. If you were the boss of the house, what would be your most important rule? 

       

        Discover Their Favorites: Uncovering Likes and Dislikes
        1. What’s your favorite thing to do when it’s raining outside?
        2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
        3. What’s your favorite sound, and why do you like it?
        4. Which is better: climbing trees or building forts?
        5. What’s the best thing about being a kid?

        6. What toy would you take with you on a deserted island?

         

          The Wild Card Round: Anything Goes!

          1. If our family were superheroes, what powers would we have?
          2. What would you do if you woke up and you were invisible?
          3. If you could make a new rule for the world, what would it be?
          4. How do you think animals talk to each other?
          5. What’s something you wish you could learn at school?
          6. What’s the silliest face you can make? Can you teach me?
          7. If you could decorate our whole house, what would it look like?
          kids making silly faces at dinner tableThere you have it, a helpful cheat sheet to turning dinner time from mundane to magical. Remember, the best conversations happen when kids feel heard and valued, so let these questions be the start of a beautiful dialogue. Who knew that the secret ingredient to family bonding was just a question away? Here's to ditching the one-word answers and embracing the wonderful world of your little one's imagination. Bon appétit and happy chatting!
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