Relationship Building Questions To Ask Kids (With Printable!)

These are excellent questions to ask kids to help them open up, learn more about each other, and really build the parent child relationship.

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We are huge fans of talking around here.

I, in fact, hardly ever shut up.

It’s no surprise that my children – all 5 of them – also talk a lot. With 7 people in a home it can be hard to get a word in. So one thing we like to do to make sure each child gets to share… is take turns with questions.

At the dinner table, we will go around with fun questions or trivia and let each child talk.

They love it and we feel we get to know them more and more!

Questions to ask children who are shy

No matter how talkative kids can be when playing and goofing off, some will be shy when asked questions directly.

Believe it or not, I was like this as a kid. I had to be “pushed” a bit to open up.

It’s important to give your shy kids opportunities to share out. Be sure to include them in your family discussion time. Here are some questions that can help:

• What is your favorite outside toy or game?
• Do you have a favorite inside toy/game? Why?
• If you could be any animal, what would you be?
• What is your favorite day of the week? Why?
• Tell me about your favorite food.
• If you could only see in two colors, what colors would you choose? Why
• What was the most fun thing that you did today?
• What do you love about your life?
• Can you tell me about time that you were really happy?
• If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?
• If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go? How would you get there?

Silly questions that will get everyone giggling

I absolutely love rolling with laughter at the table with the family. How cool is it going to be for my kids to look back on this time and remember how much they giggled and laughed!

Here are some questions to get everyone enjoying their family time together:

• Turn the numbers of your age around. How would you talk if you were that age?
• If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do?
• If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• Would you rather swim with a shark or a crocodile?
• Pretend that you have a pet parrot. What would you teach it to say?
• If you could switch places with me for a day, what would you do?
• What do you think animals say?
• What is your favorite method of laughing?
• If you were a teacher, what would you teach your students?
• What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?

Dinner table questions… choose this or that

My kids love This or That questions! They often ask for these questions before any of the others. In fact, they love hearing what their siblings and we have to choose for an answer.

You’ll be surprised how good of a listener they become and how much they begin to love hearing about each other.

• Would you rather be incredibly smart or hysterically funny?
• Would you rather live in the city or on a farm?
• If you could choose, would you rather be 5 years older or 5 years younger?
• Would you rather be an astronaut or an ocean scuba diver?
• Is it better to be too hot or too cold?
• Would you rather have a tall neck like a giraffe or a long nose like an elephant?
• If you could choose, would you rather be a captain of a ship or pilot of an airplane?
• Would you rather be able to understand what animals are saying or have them understand you?
• For a trip, would you rather go to the beach or the mountains?
• For a treat, would you rather eat cake or ice cream?
• Would you rather be able to breath underwater or fly?

Questions to ask your kids about their life away from you

Remember, this isn’t prying… but simple parenting skills. Not every kid is the same, some need to be asked to share experiences before they will open up about a time they were away from you.

One of my younger boy’s specialty is to share something about a trip he went on with a family member years ago. I’m not sure why he chooses to share these memories years later or even how he remembers them… but I’m always glad when he remembers and shares.

It’s like if I never would have asked, he would never have shared…

• What types of snacks and foods did you eat?
• Did you feel completely safe and comfortable?
• Was anyone there that you didn’t know?
• How much time did you spend indoors/outdoors?
• What is your favorite thing to do with your friends?
• Was there any arguing with your friend/cousin going on?
• Tell me what you love most about being there?
• Is there anything that you don’t like about being there?
• Was there ever a time where you wanted me to come get you?
• Was the adult available and around all of the time?

Q’s about kids’ dreams and the future

Don’t spend all of your time on questions to ask your kids that are just for fun. Use this time to grow with them.

Not only is this a great opportunity to share, but it’s also a great opportunity to teach listening appreciation and acceptance of different viewpoints.

We all want out kids to be supportive and appreciative when hearing others dreams. Guess what?

This doesn’t always come natural… the discussion that comes with the following questions will lead itself to opportunities to teach and model.

• What is your biggest dream?
• Can you tell me is something that you’re really good at?
• What is the best part of your day?
• Tell me something that you’re really looking forward to.
• Can you think of something that you really want to learn how to do?
• Is it more important to be rich or kind?
• When do you feel the most proud to be you?
• What do you think is the best part about getting older?
• What would yo most like to be? Why?
• What do you think your lie will be like ten years form now?

It’s ok if you bounce around these questions and not have lengthy discussions each night at the dinner table.

However, you’ll find that gearing your family’s conversation in directions that cause you to get to know them and teach values will be rewarding.

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