This or that questions for kids: 100 quick picks

These 100 this or that questions for kids give children two simple choices and let them pick their favorite. There are five groups of 20 questions covering food, animals, school, seasons and holidays, and silly choices.

Use them at the dinner table, during a classroom break, on a long car ride or whenever you need a quick activity without setting anything up. Most work for ages 4 to 10, and younger children can join in with a little help.

Food this or that questions for kids

Food choices are an easy place to start because children already have favorites. Ask each question and give your child a few seconds to choose. They can point, say the answer or explain why they picked it.

Some choices will be easy. Others might cause a serious debate at the kitchen table. Let children make their own picks, even if their favorite combination sounds strange to you.

1. Pizza or tacos?
2. Ice cream or cake?
3. Apples or bananas?
4. Pancakes or waffles?
5. Chocolate or vanilla?
6. French fries or potato chips?
7. Strawberries or blueberries?
8. Mac and cheese or spaghetti?
9. Popcorn or pretzels?
10. Cookies or brownies?
11. Hot dogs or hamburgers?
12. Watermelon or pineapple?
13. Cheese or peanut butter?
14. Donuts or muffins?
15. Chicken nuggets or fish sticks?
16. Carrots or cucumbers?
17. Milk or orange juice?
18. Grilled cheese or peanut butter sandwich?
19. Cupcakes or popsicles?
20. Breakfast for dinner or dinner for breakfast?

Animal this or that questions

Animal questions are a favorite with younger children. Kids can picture the animals, think about their sounds and choose the one they like best. You might even hear a few interesting reasons along the way.

Try asking children to make the animal sound after each answer. It gives shy kids another way to join in, and younger siblings often enjoy the silly noises just as much as the choices.

21. Cats or dogs?
22. Lions or tigers?
23. Dolphins or whales?
24. Butterflies or ladybugs?
25. Elephants or giraffes?
26. Rabbits or hamsters?
27. Penguins or polar bears?
28. Horses or zebras?
29. Frogs or turtles?
30. Monkeys or gorillas?
31. Owls or eagles?
32. Sharks or crocodiles?
33. Pandas or koalas?
34. Snakes or lizards?
35. Ducks or chickens?
36. Bees or ants?
37. Foxes or wolves?
38. Deer or bears?
39. Sea turtles or starfish?
40. Unicorns or dragons?

School this or that questions

These questions work especially well before the school day starts or during a short break between lessons. Children can talk about the parts of school they enjoy without feeling like they are answering a test.

Teachers can use them as a quick morning meeting activity. Ask the whole class, have children raise one hand for the first choice and the other for the second, then invite one or two students to explain their answers.

41. Reading books or drawing pictures?
42. Math or science?
43. Pencils or crayons?
44. Recess or lunchtime?
45. Art class or music class?
46. Reading quietly or reading aloud?
47. Building blocks or puzzles?
48. Writing stories or making crafts?
49. School library or playground?
50. Working alone or working with a partner?
51. Spelling or counting?
52. Paint or colored pencils?
53. Classroom pet or classroom garden?
54. Field trips or school parties?
55. Singing songs or playing games?
56. Learning about space or learning about dinosaurs?
57. Show and tell or story time?
58. Whiteboard or notebook?
59. Indoor games or outdoor games?
60. Extra art time or extra recess?

Seasons and holiday this or that questions

Seasonal choices are handy for holiday parties, family gatherings and classroom celebrations. They also give children a chance to talk about things they look forward to each year.

You can use these questions throughout the year. In December, ask about snowmen and holiday treats. When summer arrives, bring out the beach and swimming pool choices.

61. Summer or winter?
62. Spring or fall?
63. Snowmen or snow angels?
64. Pumpkin carving or apple picking?
65. Halloween or Christmas?
66. Trick-or-treating or decorating cookies?
67. Easter eggs or Christmas presents?
68. Beach days or snowy days?
69. Jumping in puddles or jumping in leaf piles?
70. Hot chocolate or lemonade?
71. Halloween costumes or holiday pajamas?
72. Fireworks or Christmas lights?
73. Building a snowman or making a sandcastle?
74. Thanksgiving dinner or holiday breakfast?
75. Spring flowers or fall leaves?
76. Easter bunny or Santa Claus?
77. Ice skating or sledding?
78. Summer vacation or winter break?
79. Pumpkin pie or apple pie?
80. Decorating a Christmas tree or decorating Easter eggs?

Silly this or that questions for kids

Ready for the questions that make everyone laugh? This group has unusual combinations and imaginary situations. There are no serious answers here, so encourage children to use their imagination.

Honestly, these can be the best questions for a long car ride or a rainy afternoon. Parents and teachers should answer too. Children love finding out that grown-ups have some pretty silly preferences.

81. Flying like a bird or swimming like a fish?
82. Having a pet dinosaur or a pet dragon?
83. Talking to animals or speaking every language?
84. Eating only purple food or only green food?
85. Having spaghetti for hair or marshmallows for fingers?
86. Living in a treehouse or living in a castle?
87. Being invisible or being able to fly?
88. Wearing pajamas all day or wearing a costume all day?
89. Having ten puppies or ten kittens?
90. Walking backward or hopping everywhere?
91. Sleeping in a giant tent or sleeping in a blanket fort?
92. Having a robot helper or a talking teddy bear?
93. Eating a giant cookie or a giant cupcake?
94. Having rainbow hair or glittery shoes?
95. Living underwater or living on the moon?
96. Laughing like a hyena or roaring like a lion?
97. Having wheels for feet or springs for legs?
98. Turning into a frog or turning into a butterfly?
99. Having a slide instead of stairs or a trampoline instead of a bed?
100. Having ice cream for breakfast or pizza for dessert?

How to play and print your questions

This or that is different from would you rather. With this or that, children choose between two plain options and answer quickly. Would you rather questions usually describe two imaginary situations and ask children to think about what they would do. Both are fun, but this or that is easier when you only have a minute or two.

Teachers can use these questions as a 2-minute warm-up before a lesson. Read one aloud, let students choose a side of the room or raise their hands, and move straight to the next question. For a line-up game, ask a question while children wait for their turn. They can answer as they move into position.

What about a 4-year-old who needs a little help? Start with familiar choices such as cats or dogs, pizza or tacos, and crayons or pencils. Say both options slowly, show a picture or gesture toward each one, and let your child point. There is no need to ask for a reason every time. A quick answer is enough.

For children who enjoy talking, ask one short follow-up question after their pick. If they choose dogs, you might ask which kind of dog they like. Keep it relaxed. Some children will happily explain every answer, while others would rather move straight to the next question.

You can also turn the questions into a longer family game. Give everyone a turn to read a question, then compare answers. If you need another conversation activity, try our Would you rather questions for kids. For a game with questions that have correct answers, our [Trivia questions for kids with answers](https://123arc.com/trivia-questions-for-kids/) are another good choice.

Want to use these questions away from a screen? Print a set as cards. Put each question on a separate card, cut them apart and place them in a small bowl or envelope. You can print all five groups together or choose just one group for a classroom activity. Keep the cards somewhere easy to reach, and you will have a quick game ready for the next quiet moment.

Questions parents ask

What are good this or that questions for 4-year-olds?

Choose familiar things your child can picture, such as cats or dogs, apples or bananas, and summer or winter. Keep the choices short and let your child point if they do not feel like answering aloud.

How do you play this or that with kids?

Read two choices aloud and ask your child to pick one. They can say their answer, point to a picture or move to one side of the room. Take turns asking questions if you want everyone involved.

What is the difference between this or that and would you rather?

This or that gives children two simple choices, such as pizza or tacos. Would you rather usually asks them to choose between two imaginary situations, such as flying or becoming invisible.