This or that questions for kids: 40 quick choices to play anywhere

How to play

• Speed round: read a question and have everyone answer in one second. Keep going quickly for a minute, then stop and laugh at the results.
• Explain your pick: choose one question and give each person a turn to say why. Short reasons are enough, such as "because I like the sound".
• Stand on sides: put a ball of paper or a chalk line in the middle of the room. Children walk to the left for the first choice and to the right for the second. Leave plenty of space so nobody bumps, and let children change sides whenever they change their minds.
• Make it harder: ask for a third pick, such as "this, that or something else?", and let children invent the something else.
• Listen kindly: no choice is wrong, and nobody needs to copy a friend. A friendly question works better than an argument.

Seasons and weather this or that questions

Sun, rain, wind and everything in between.

1. Summer or winter?
2. A rainy day or a windy day?
3. A rainbow or a sunset?
4. Splashing in puddles or flying a kite?
5. A sunny morning or a starry night?
6. Autumn leaves or spring flowers?
7. A snow day or a beach day?
8. A rainy-day song or a sunny-day song?
9. A raincoat or an umbrella?
10. A cloud or a breeze?

Playground and sports this or that questions

Running, jumping, swinging and cheering.

11. The swing or the slide?
12. Hopscotch or skipping rope?
13. Cricket or football?
14. Hide and seek or tag?
15. A seesaw or a roundabout?
16. Badminton or table tennis?
17. Racing a friend or passing a ball with a friend?
18. The monkey bars or the climbing net?
19. Kabaddi or kho kho?
20. A bicycle or a scooter?

School and learning this or that questions

Pencils, pages, ideas and good days.

21. Drawing or singing?
22. Reading a story or telling a story?
23. Maths puzzles or word puzzles?
24. A pen or a crayon?
25. A map or a globe?
26. The library or the art room?
27. Working alone or working in a team?
28. A long break or a long story time?
29. A science experiment or a craft project?
30. A class pet or a class garden?

Animals and nature this or that questions

Wings, paws, leaves and rivers.

31. A parrot or a peacock?
32. A puppy or a kitten?
33. A mountain or a river?
34. A butterfly or a ladybird?
35. A forest walk or a beach walk?
36. An owl at night or a sparrow at dawn?
37. A sleepy elephant or a playful monkey?
38. A pond with frogs or a meadow with rabbits?
39. A tall tree or a wide field?
40. Watching the moon or watching the clouds?

For families and teachers

This game needs no equipment, no screen and no preparation, so it fits into the small gaps in a busy day. A few friendly minutes often gets quiet children talking, and it helps louder children practise listening to others.

• Icebreakers: begin a new term or a party with three quick questions, so every child speaks within the first minute.
• Car rides: play with no paper at all. Take turns making up new pairs from whatever you see outside the window.
• Circle time: read one question, let each child answer, then ask two or three to explain. It settles a restless group.

Children can also invent their own pairs and test them on friends, which is a gentle way to practise speaking, comparing and giving reasons. Older children might write a set of ten for a younger class. For more word play, try our riddles for kids. Teachers can find ideas on the for teachers page and in the classroom story circle, and there are more ideas in our play and learn section.

Questions

How many questions are on this page?

There are 40 original this or that questions, ten each in four themes: seasons and weather, playground and sports, school and learning, and animals and nature.

What age are these questions for?

They are written for children aged about 5 to 10. Younger children can simply point to a side or say one word.

How is this different from would you rather?

Each choice here is just a few words, so the game moves fast. Would you rather asks longer, more imaginative questions that need more thinking time.

What if a child likes both choices?

That is fine. They can say both, say neither or suggest a third idea. The game is about sharing a quick opinion, and every answer counts.