200+ Fun "This or That" Questions to Ask Kids

Start some fun and interesting conversations with your kids by playing "This or That?"

Co-authored by Ali Garbacz

Last Updated: February 24, 2023

Whether you’ve got lots of time to kill, need a way to distract your students, or just want to start a fun conversation with your kids, playing "This or That" is a super fun and entertaining option. This game has no limits and lets you be as creative as you want, and we’re here with a whole list of possible questions to get you started.

Things You Should Know

Find out your kids' favorite foods, animals, hobbies, and places to go.
Get their opinions on things related to school, technology, and travel.
Combine any two objects, places, or people to make some super creative and fun "This or That" questions.

1

Food

Get your kids' opinions on their favorite and least favorite foods. If you have a picky eater on your hands, even better! Now you can find out what foods they like and dislike while keeping them entertained.^{[1]
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- Soup or salad?
- Broccoli or Brussels sprouts?
- Pancakes or waffles?
- Milkshake or smoothie?
- Chocolate or vanilla?
- Pepsi or Coke?
- Taco or burrito?
- Sweet or sour?
- Breakfast or dinner?
- Spaghetti or lasagna?
- Fruit or vegetables?
- M&Ms or Skittles?
- Straight fries or curly fries?
- Milk or juice?
- Bacon or sausage?

2

Animals

Find out about their favorite furry friends. Start off with your typical cats and dogs and work your way up to more obscure animals. Throw in some mythical creatures too for more fun. Maybe your kids will discover their new favorite animal they never knew existed.
- Cats or dogs?
- Lions or tigers?
- Dragons or unicorns?
- Bunnies or hamsters?
- Fish or turtles?
- Puppies or kittens?
- Ducks or geese?
- Sharks or whales?
- Griffin or phoenix?
- Owls or parrots?
- Spiders or ants?
- Dolphins or sharks?
- Butterflies or caterpillars?
- Horses or giraffes?
- Sheep or goats?

3

Superpowers

Help your kids explore their imaginations. We’ve probably all at one point thought about how cool it’d be to have superpowers. Let your kids’ imaginations run wild by asking them "This or That" questions related to awesome and unique superpowers.
- Would you rather fly or teleport?
- Would you rather have heat-ray vision or x-ray vision?
- Would you rather have super strength or super speed?
- Would you rather be able to read minds or be able to see the future?
- Would you rather be super smart or be able to remember everything?
- Would you rather be able to speak to animals or speak any language?
- Would you rather be able to grow and shrink or have super stretchy arms and legs?
- Would you rather have the ability to heal others or never get hurt?
- Would you rather have the power to control fire or water?
- Would you rather have the power of invisibility or shape-shifting?
- Would you rather have ice power or fire power?
- Would you rather be able to walk through walls or summon things?

4

Books

Pose some questions to get your kids excited about reading. Kids or students who love to read will be ecstatic to answer these questions. Or if you’re trying to encourage them to like reading, ask them these questions to get them started thinking about what their preferences are when it comes to reading.^{[2]
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- Adventure or romance?
- Fantasy or realistic?
- History or fiction?
- Hero or villain?
- Long or short?
- Future, present, or past?
- Would you rather read a book or listen to a story?
- Comics or books?
- Library or bookstore?
- Bookmark or dog-ear?

5

Movies

Find out what your kids’ favorite films are. Not only are movies fun to watch and a great way to pass time, but they’re actually also helpful in developing kids’ cognitive functions and imagination. So ask these questions to get an idea of what kinds of movies your kids like, and maybe you’ll find your next watch in the process.
- Animated or live-action?
- Harry Potter or Star Wars?
- Lord of the Rings or Star Trek?
- Scary movie or funny movie?
- Superheroes or fantasy?
- Disney or Marvel?
- Spiderman or Batman?
- TV or movie theater?
- 2D or 3D?
- Popcorn or candy?
- Christmas movies or Halloween movies?

6

School

Ask questions about their favorite subjects and classes. Your kids or students might have more complaints than praises when it comes to talking about school, but that doesn’t mean it’s all bad. Use some fun "This or That" questions to find out things like their favorite subjects and what they like to do with their friends.^{[3]
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- Math or science?
- Reading or writing?
- Inside recess or outside?
- English or social studies?
- Pen or pencil?
- Basketball or volleyball for PE?
- Cafeteria food or packed lunch?
- Late start or early dismissal?
- Backpack or tote bag?
- Snow day or get out early for summer?
- Hard pencil case or soft?
- Reading time or nap time?
- Foreign language or art?
- Band or choir?
- Lockers or cubbies?
- Mechanical pencil or regular pencil?
- Would you rather switch classes or stay in one room?

7

Music

Find out what kind of tunes your kids are into. If you’re ever curious about what kind of tunes your kid is listening to, ask them some music-related "This or That" questions. Ask about their favorite singers, genres, and modes of listening with some creative questions.
- Pop or rock?
- Radio or streaming?
- Spotify or Apple Music?
- Headphones or earbuds?
- Rock or country?
- Boy bands or girl groups?
- Sad songs or upbeat songs?
- Movie soundtrack or piano covers of popular songs?
- EDM or hip hop?
- Rap or singing?
- Old music or new music?
- Acoustic or rock?
- Remix or original?
- Kpop or Latin pop?
- Singing in the shower or the car?

8

Hobbies

Get kids talking about what they love to do. Hobbies are unique and special in a different way to every single person. This is a great way to get your kids talking about what they love to do in their free time. Or it can help them discover a new hobby that they might want to try.
- Drawing or coloring?
- Knitting or sewing?
- Video games or reading?
- Playing outside or playing inside?
- Listening to music or watching TV?
- Do you prefer playing sports or going for a walk?
- Fishing or bird watching?
- Would you rather climb a mountain or explore the sea?
- Baking or cooking?
- Guitar or piano?
- Dance or martial arts?
- Playing an instrument or listening to music?
- Would you rather redecorate or repaint your room?
- Collecting items or making crafts?
- Painting or sketching?

9

Sports

Talk about fun ways to get moving. If you have an active child or student, ask them all about their favorite sports and what physical activities they prefer. Even if they just like to watch sports, these are some super fun questions to pass the time.
- Basketball or football?
- Soccer or hockey?
- Playing or watching?
- Men’s or women’s sports?
- Ice skating or gymnastics?
- Snowboarding or skiing?
- Snorkeling or scuba diving?
- Jump rope or playing tag?
- Skydiving or bungee jumping?
- Summer or winter Olympics?
- Lacrosse or field hockey?
- Bowling or tennis?
- Ice skating or roller skating?
- Golf or croquet?
- Ultimate frisbee or frisbee golf?
- Archery or horseback riding?

10

Games

Find out how your kids have the most fun. Kids and playing games are like peas in a pod. Whether it’s video games, board games, or imaginary games with friends, kids love to play and keep themselves busy. Learn about what some of their favorite games are by asking them lots of "This or That" questions.
- PlayStation or Nintendo?
- Roblox or Minecraft?
- esports or actual sports?
- Video games or board games?
- Mobile games or video games?
- FPS or world-building?
- Multiplayer or single-player?
- Mario or Sonic?
- Play with family or play with friends?
- Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune?
- Tic tac toe or rock paper scissors?
- Puzzles or riddles?
- Crossword or word search?
- Sudoku or word jumble?
- Card games or board games?

11

Careers

Help them learn what kinds of jobs are out there. It’s never too early to think about what you want to be when you grow up. Ask some job-related "This or That" questions to get your kids or students thinking about the future and what it may hold for them. Throw in some fun options too to get their imaginations running wild.
- Police(wo)man or fire(wo)man?
- Actor or singer?
- Writer or artist?
- Astronaut or cowboy?
- Pirate or mermaid/man?
- Worker or boss?
- Work at home or work in an office?
- Teacher or scientist?
- Model or photographer?
- Influencer or YouTuber?

12

Technology

Figure out what they have to say about the newest tech. Technology is present in so many parts of our lives, so your kids will probably have their fair share of opinions when it comes to which technology is best and what they prefer.
- Tablet or laptop?
- iPhone or Samsung?
- Wired charging or wireless?
- Headphones or earbuds?
- Paper books or ebooks?
- Setting 10 different alarms or setting just 1?
- TikTok or Instagram?
- Phone games or video games?
- TV or projector?
- Light mode or dark mode?

13

Travel

Get your kids thinking about their dream vacation. Even if you don’t have a big trip coming up soon, why not ask your kids what their perfect vacation looks like? It’ll lead to some entertaining conversations and might give you some inspiration for your next trip.
- Disneyworld or Disneyland?
- Beach or mountains?
- Flying or driving?
- Train or boat?
- Hot or cold?
- Another country or this country?
- Would you rather travel with family or with friends?
- Hotel or Airbnb?
- Pool or beach?
- Surfing or skiing?
- Would you rather build a sandcastle or go swimming?
- Souvenir magnet or hat?
- Would you rather swim with sharks or dolphins?
- Helicopter ride or ziplining?
- Would you rather travel during winter break or summer break?

14

Places

Find out the places that are the most fun for your kids. Where does your kid like to spend their time? If they were to plan their perfect day, where would they go? Start getting their ideas flowing by asking "This or That" questions related to general places or special shops and restaurants near you.
- Home or outside?
- Lake or ocean?
- Bakery or cafe?
- Library or bookstore?
- McDonald’s or Burger King?
- Zoo or aquarium?
- Forest preserve or nature trail?
- Mall or thrift store?
- Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts?
- City or farm?
- Movie theater or arcade?
- Ice rink or roller rink?
- Clothing store or toy store?
- Animal shelter or petting zoo?
- Dog park or playground?

15

Random

Make some creative pairings by asking about anything that comes to mind. There’s no limit to the possible combinations you can throw together. If you have lots of time to kill or just want to keep your kids or students distracted, put your imagination to work and throw together some "This or That" questions. Make them as funny, random, or serious as you want. Anything is possible here.
- Moon or sun?
- Would you rather wake up early or stay up late?
- Shower or bath?
- One color or rainbow colors?
- Rain or snow?
- Car or truck?
- Walk or run?
- Loud or quiet?
- Winter or summer?
- Sleep or play?
- Homework or doing chores?
- Stuffed animals or action figures/dolls?
- Would you rather have lots of friends or just a few friends?
- Would you rather go to the dentist or go to the doctor?
- Friday or Saturday?