This or that questions for kids are quick two-choice prompts like “Dogs or cats?” that kids answer with a pick and a reason, and below are 241 original ones sorted by age, topic and season, with easy ways to play.
Need a quick way to get kids talking at dinner, in the car or on the first day of school? This or that questions for kids take seconds to ask, work for every age from preschool to middle school, and need nothing but your voice.
Every question on this page is original and appears only once. You will find easy picks for preschoolers, food, animal and school questions, seasonal and holiday sets, silly questions, deeper picks for tweens, calm bedtime questions, and nine ways to play.
Key Takeaways
This or that questions offer two choices and no wrong answers, so every child can join in.
Preschoolers do best with concrete picks they can point to; tweens enjoy deeper questions that need a reason.
The follow-up “Why?” turns a quick pick into a real conversation.
Popular ways to play include move to the side, thumbs up or down, four corners and rapid fire.
Calm questions in a soft voice make this or that an easy part of a bedtime wind-down.
Table of Contents
What Are This or That Questions?
Quick Answer
This or that questions for kids are quick two-choice prompts, such as “Dogs or cats?” or “Pizza or tacos?” Your child picks one, and if they like, says why. There are no wrong answers, no reading required and no setup, so the game works for preschoolers, tweens and everyone in between. Below are 241 original questions, sorted by age, topic and season, plus ways to play at home, in the car, in the classroom and at bedtime.
This or that is the simplest cousin of would you rather questions. Would you rather usually sets up a silly or tricky situation, while this or that just names two things and lets kids choose. That makes it perfect for little kids who are still building vocabulary, and for busy moments when you only have a minute.
A quick answer is the starting point, not the goal. The fun comes from the follow-up: “Why the moon?” or “What would you do with a pet dragon?” That small question turns a one-word pick into a real conversation.
Easy This or That Questions for Preschoolers (Ages 3 to 5)
Keep it concrete for little ones: things they can see, touch, eat or do. Hold up two fingers, one for each choice, and let them point if words are slow to come.
1. Apples or bananas?
2. Red or blue?
3. Puppies or kittens?
4. The slide or the swings?
5. Crayons or markers?
6. Boots or sandals?
7. Cars or trains?
8. The sun or the moon?
9. A big hug or a high five?
10. Ducks or frogs?
11. Stickers or stamps?
12. Blocks or puzzles?
13. The sandbox or the splash pad?
14. Striped socks or polka dot socks?
15. Ladybugs or butterflies?
16. Singing or dancing?
17. Pancakes or waffles?
18. Bubbles or balloons?
19. A teddy bear or a stuffed bunny?
20. Drums or bells?
21. Rain puddles or snowflakes?
22. A wagon ride or a piggyback ride?
23. Story time or song time?
24. A tractor or a digger?
25. Painting with a brush or painting with your fingers?
26. A hat or sunglasses?
27. The park or the library?
28. Playdough or paint?
29. Pajamas all day or a superhero costume all day?
30. Green or purple?
Tip: if your child always picks the second option, they may be echoing the last word they heard. Switch the order and see if the answer changes, then laugh about it together.
Food and Animal This or That Questions
Food. Food questions are the easiest way into the game for picky and adventurous eaters alike, and they double as menu planning.
31. Pizza or tacos?
32. Strawberries or blueberries?
33. Cheese or crackers?
34. Ketchup or mustard?
35. Popcorn or pretzels?
36. Spaghetti or mac and cheese?
37. Cereal or toast for breakfast?
38. Hot cocoa or lemonade?
39. Carrots or cucumbers?
40. A smoothie or a milkshake?
41. A burrito or a sandwich?
42. Grapes or watermelon?
43. Soup or salad?
44. Chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal cookies?
45. Corn on the cob or mashed potatoes?
46. Sushi or dumplings?
47. Cupcakes or brownies?
48. Sprinkles or chocolate chips?
49. Apple juice or orange juice?
50. Breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?
51. Sweet or salty?
52. Crunchy snacks or squishy snacks?
53. Rice or noodles?
54. Pickles or olives?
55. Bagels or muffins?
Animals. Animal picks are a great excuse to look things up together. If your child chooses sloths, follow up with “What do you think sloths do all day?” and check the answer in a library book.
56. Dogs or cats?
57. Lions or tigers?
58. Dolphins or sharks?
59. Owls or eagles?
60. Penguins or polar bears?
61. Elephants or giraffes?
62. Horses or zebras?
63. Snakes or lizards?
64. Bunnies or hamsters?
65. Bees or ants?
66. An octopus or a jellyfish?
67. Monkeys or sloths?
68. Kangaroos or koalas?
69. Wolves or foxes?
70. Turtles or tortoises?
71. Parrots or peacocks?
72. A pet fish or a pet bird?
73. T. rex or triceratops?
74. Whales or sea turtles?
75. Bats or raccoons?
76. Cheetah speed or elephant strength?
77. A pet that talks or a pet that flies?
78. The farm or the aquarium?
79. Bears or moose?
80. Hedgehogs or guinea pigs?
Want more critter conversation starters? Our fun facts for kids are full of surprising animal facts to share after each pick.
Big days go better with a good night of sleep.
Got a little one at home too? Our free two-minute quiz builds a gentle, personalized sleep plan for babies and toddlers.
This or That Questions for School and the Classroom
Teachers use this or that for morning meetings, transitions and brain breaks because every child can answer in a few seconds. These school questions work on the first day, the last day and any Monday in between.
81. Math or reading?
82. Art or music?
83. Recess outside or games inside?
84. Pencil or pen?
85. A rolling backpack or a regular backpack?
86. Ride the bus or ride in the car?
87. Lunch from home or school lunch?
88. Gym or science?
89. Sit in the front row or the back row?
90. Write a story or draw a comic?
91. A field trip to a museum or a science center?
92. A spelling test or a math quiz?
93. A group project or a solo project?
94. Read aloud or read silently?
95. Class pet: a lizard or a rabbit?
96. Lined paper or blank paper?
97. Kickball or four square?
98. Line leader or door holder?
99. Library day or art day?
100. Learn an instrument or learn a new language?
101. Chapter books or picture books?
102. A glue stick or tape?
103. Teacher for a day or principal for a day?
104. A science experiment or an art project?
105. A whiteboard or a chalkboard?
Get-to-know-you picks for the first day or a new group. These are easy for shy kids because they never have to explain themselves unless they want to:
106. Early bird or night owl?
107. Mountains or the beach?
108. Sports or video games?
109. A summer birthday or a winter birthday?
110. Sit with an old friend or make a new friend?
111. Homework right after school or after a snack?
Seasonal questions give the game a fresh feel all year. Save each set for the right month, or mix them all on a rainy afternoon.
Fall
116. Apple picking or the pumpkin patch?
117. Rake the leaves or jump in the leaves?
118. Apple pie or pumpkin pie?
119. A hayride or a corn maze?
120. A sweater or a hoodie?
121. Caramel apples or apple cider?
122. Acorns or pinecones?
Halloween
123. A funny costume or a spooky costume?
124. Witch or wizard?
125. Ghosts or skeletons?
126. Trick-or-treat or trunk-or-treat?
127. Carve a pumpkin or paint a pumpkin?
128. Vampire or werewolf?
129. A haunted house or a Halloween party?
130. Candy corn or candy bars?
Thanksgiving
131. Turkey or ham?
132. Stuffing or cranberry sauce?
133. Watch the parade or play football in the yard?
134. Rolls or cornbread?
135. Help cook or help set the table?
136. Leftovers for lunch or leftovers for breakfast?
137. Say what you are thankful for or write it on a card?
Winter
138. A snowman or a snow angel?
139. Sledding or ice skating?
140. Mittens or gloves?
141. A snowball fight or a snow fort?
142. Fuzzy socks or slippers?
143. A snow day at home or a sunny winter day outside?
144. Marshmallows or whipped cream on your cocoa?
Christmas
145. Decorate the tree or decorate cookies?
146. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
147. Elf or reindeer?
148. Open presents in pajamas or get dressed first?
149. A gingerbread house or gingerbread people?
150. White lights or colorful lights?
151. Giving gifts or getting gifts?
152. A snow globe or a music box?
Summer
153. The pool or the lake?
154. Popsicles or ice cream cones?
155. Camping or a hotel?
156. The sprinkler or water balloons?
157. Fireflies or shooting stars?
158. A lemonade stand or a bake sale?
159. Flip-flops or water shoes?
Swap in your own family’s celebrations, too: ask about favorite holiday foods, songs or traditions, and let kids write a question for next year.
Silly This or That Questions for Kids
Silly questions are the ones kids remember and repeat at dinner. They are also good for kids who freeze up on serious questions, because there is no sensible answer.
160. Spaghetti hair or marshmallow toes?
161. Talk like a pirate or talk like a robot for a day?
162. Ride a giant snail or a tiny elephant?
163. Bounce like a ball or float like a bubble?
164. Burp glitter or sneeze confetti?
165. Live in a treehouse or a castle?
166. A pet dinosaur or a pet dragon?
167. Clown shoes every day or a superhero cape every day?
168. Be invisible or be able to fly?
169. A glowing nose or whistling ears?
170. Jump into pudding or into a pool of jelly beans?
171. A tail or wings?
172. Talk to animals or talk to trees?
173. Shrink to the size of an ant or grow as tall as a giraffe?
174. Be a sock or be a shoe?
175. Live on the moon or under the sea?
176. Rainbow hair or polka dot skin?
177. Eat soup with a fork or cereal with chopsticks?
178. Walk backward all day or hop on one foot all day?
179. A robot helper or a magic carpet?
180. Sing everything you say or rhyme everything you say?
181. Laugh like a goat or snort like a pig?
182. A banana phone or a shoe phone?
183. A bathtub full of bubbles or a bathtub full of ball-pit balls?
Deeper This or That Questions for Tweens (Ages 9 to 12)
Older kids like questions that make them think and argue a little. These work like would you rather questions: there is no right answer, and the reasons are the interesting part. Ask “Why?” every time, and share your own pick too.
185. Be famous or be rich?
186. Know the future or change the past?
187. Be the smartest person in the room or the kindest?
188. More free time or more money?
189. A big city or a small town?
190. Explore outer space or the deep ocean?
191. A great singer or a great athlete?
192. Never use a phone again or never watch TV again?
193. Best player on a losing team or worst player on a winning team?
194. One best friend or lots of good friends?
195. Speak every language or play every instrument?
196. Lead the group or support the leader?
197. Meet a dinosaur in the past or your great-great-grandkids in the future?
198. Invent something useful or discover something new?
199. Win an award or help a friend win one?
200. Really funny or really smart?
201. A perfect memory or the power to learn any skill fast?
202. Live without music or live without movies?
203. Travel the world for a year or have your dream bedroom forever?
204. Plan every detail or go with the flow?
205. Ask for help or figure it out alone?
206. Author or illustrator?
207. A sports team or a band?
208. Create a new holiday or create a new sport?
209. Be in charge of the school lunch menu or the school schedule?
Tweens often enjoy writing their own versions. Give them a theme (sports, space, the future) and let them stump the family.
This or That for Family Dinner, Car Rides and Bedtime
Family dinner. One question per person is enough to get everyone talking. These also help you plan the week:
210. Cook dinner together or have takeout night?
211. Dessert first or dessert last?
212. Family game night or family movie night?
213. A picnic in the living room or dinner on the porch?
214. Tell a joke or hear a joke?
215. Visit the grandparents or have them visit us?
216. A vacation at a cabin or in a big city?
217. A board game or a card game?
218. Make your own pizza or build your own sundae?
219. Plan the weekend or be surprised?
220. Share the best part of your day or the funniest part?
221. Eat with chopsticks or eat with your hands?
Car rides. Quick-fire questions make a short drive fly by and pair well with our road trip games:
222. The window seat or the middle seat?
223. An audiobook or music?
224. Trail mix or fruit snacks?
225. Stop at every playground or get there faster?
226. Count cows or count red cars?
227. Sing loud or hum quietly?
228. Drive through the mountains or along the ocean?
229. Nap in the car or stay awake the whole way?
230. A picnic at a rest stop or a drive-through?
231. Car games or looking out the window?
Bedtime wind-down. Choose calm, cozy questions in a soft voice, and stop while it is still peaceful. Ask two or three, not twenty:
232. One long story or two short stories?
233. Soft pajamas or cozy socks?
234. Counting stars or counting sheep?
235. Rain sounds or ocean sounds?
236. A hug or a back rub?
237. Dream about flying or dream about swimming?
238. Night-light on or door open a crack?
239. Read a book or sing a quiet song?
240. A bubble bath or a plain bath?
241. Tomorrow: pancakes or oatmeal?
Keep this part short and predictable so it settles kids rather than revving them up. If bedtime is already a struggle, our toddler bedtime routine guide shows how to build a short, steady sequence.
How to Play This or That (Games and Variations)
You can play with two people or thirty. Here are the most popular ways, from the living room to the classroom.
Version
How it works
Best for
Classic
Read a question; everyone answers out loud and, if they want, explains why
Any group, any age
Move to the side
Point to one side of the room for “this” and the other for “that”; kids walk to their pick
Classrooms, parties, kids who need to move
Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs up for the first choice, thumbs down for the second; no walking needed
Circle time, small spaces, quick checks
Four corners
Label corners “this,” “that,” “both” and “neither” so kids who cannot decide still have a spot
Big groups, older kids
Morning meeting
One question a day; each child answers in a sentence: “I pick ___ because ___”
Preschool and elementary classrooms
Rapid fire
Ask 10 questions as fast as you can; no reasons allowed
Car rides, waiting rooms, lines
Draw it
Kids sketch their pick and show it
Quiet time, kids who like art
Bedtime wind-down
Two or three calm questions in a soft voice, then lights out
Bedtime routines
Make your own
Kids write questions for the grown-ups
Ages 6 and up, rainy days
Ways to play this or that with kids.
No wrong answers: every pick is fine, and nobody gets teased for theirs. Model this by being curious instead of correcting.
Let kids pass: a shy child can say “pass” or just point. Pressure takes the fun out of it.
Give wait time: count to five in your head before rephrasing. Some kids need a moment.
Mix easy and hard: alternate quick picks with one that needs a reason, so the pace stays lively.
Share your own picks: kids love learning that a parent prefers sharks to dolphins.
This or that is a game first, and it is fine to play it just for fun. It also lines up with everyday advice from child development experts, as long as you keep expectations modest:
Practicing choices: the CDC’s positive parenting tips for preschoolers suggest giving children a few simple options, such as what to wear or what to have for a snack. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) notes that offering two acceptable choices gives children a sense of control and supports cooperation and independence. This or that is low-stakes practice with the same idea.
Back-and-forth talk: Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child describes “serve and return” exchanges, responsive back-and-forth interactions between children and caring adults, as building blocks for communication and social skills in young children. A quick pick plus a follow-up is an easy way to keep that exchange going.
A ladder to bigger questions: in a NAEYC family resource, early childhood educator Janis Strasser suggests using everyday routines like mealtimes and bedtime for conversation, giving children time to think, and rephrasing with easier options when a child does not yet have the words. Two-choice questions are exactly that kind of easier option, and “Tell me more” turns them into open-ended talk.
Connection at the table: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages families to put phones away at meals, ask open-ended questions and give kids most of the talking time. A this or that question is a gentle way to start.
This or that will not teach reading or replace real conversations, and that is fine. Its job is to make talking easy and fun, so the bigger conversations follow.
This or that questions are the easiest conversation game there is: two choices, no wrong answers, and endless variety. Start with the preschool picks for little ones, try the silly list when energy is high and the deeper tween questions when kids want to debate, and save the calm bedtime set for the end of the day. Whatever you pick, ask “Why?” and share your own answer. With 241 questions here, you have enough for a new one every day for months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good this or that questions for kids?
Good this or that questions for kids name two things children know well, such as dogs or cats, pizza or tacos, the beach or the mountains, and summer or winter. For preschoolers, keep both choices concrete. For older kids, add silly picks and deeper questions like knowing the future or changing the past, and always ask why.
How do you play this or that?
Read a question that offers two choices, and each player picks one. Kids can answer out loud, point, give a thumbs up or down, or walk to one side of the room. Ask players to explain their pick when there is time, keep the pace quick, and remember there are no wrong answers in this game.
What is the difference between this or that and would you rather?
This or that simply names two things, like apples or bananas, and asks which one you prefer. Would you rather usually describes an imaginary or tricky situation, like having wings or a tail. This or that is quicker and easier for young children, while would you rather questions invite longer explanations.
What age is this or that good for?
This or that works from about age 3, when children can point to or name a favorite, all the way through the teen years. Preschoolers need simple, familiar choices. School-age kids enjoy silly and classroom questions, and tweens like deeper picks that spark a friendly debate. Adults can play too.
What are some funny this or that questions?
Funny this or that questions mix silly images, such as spaghetti hair or marshmallow toes, burping glitter or sneezing confetti, a banana phone or a shoe phone, and laughing like a goat or snorting like a pig. The sillier the pair, the better, and kids love inventing their own.
How do teachers use this or that in the classroom?
Teachers use this or that for morning meetings, icebreakers, brain breaks and transitions. A common version has students move to one side of the room for each choice. It helps kids learn about classmates, practice speaking in full sentences and get moving, and every child can answer quickly.
Gentle changes, peaceful nights.
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National Association for the Education of Young Children. Strasser, J. Message in a Backpack: Asking Questions to Stretch Your Child’s Thinking. https://naeyc.org/node/5321
