This or That Questions for Kids turn ordinary conversations into fun choices that help children talk, think, laugh, and share their opinions. From choosing pizza or burgers to picking books or video games, these questions work well at home, in classrooms, parties, road trips, and in English-learning activities.
- They are easy to understand and answer.
- Kids can choose between two options.
- Teachers can use them as speaking activities.
- Parents can use them to start family conversations.
- ESL students can practice everyday English naturally.
- Older students can explain why they made their choice.
What Are This or That Questions for Kids?
This or That Questions for Kids are questions that ask children to choose one of two options.
For example:
- Would you choose cats or dogs?
- Do you prefer summer or winter?
- Would you rather eat pizza or burgers?
- Do you like reading or drawing?
The goal is not to find a correct answer. Kids simply choose the option they prefer.
These questions can also develop:
- Speaking skills
- Listening skills
- Vocabulary
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Conversation skills
- Confidence in speaking English
How to Play This or That
The game needs almost no preparation. One person asks a question, and everyone chooses an option.
Basic Rules:
- Ask one question at a time.
- Give the child two choices.
- Let the child answer quickly.
- Ask “Why?” when you want more conversation.
- There is no right or wrong answer.
- Encourage children to respect different choices.
Example:
- Teacher: “Books or movies?”
- Student: “Movies.”
- Teacher: “Why?”
- Student: “Because I like watching stories.”
For younger children, they can point to their choice instead of giving a long verbal answer.
Easy This or That Questions for Kids
Start with familiar choices that children see in their everyday lives.
- Cats or dogs?
- Summer or winter?
- Morning or night?
- Books or movies?
- Drawing or coloring?
- Cake or ice cream?
- Pizza or burgers?
- Apples or bananas?
- Red or blue?
- Beach or mountains?
- Soccer or basketball?
- School or holidays?
- Reading or writing?
- Singing or dancing?
- Chocolate or vanilla?
- Rain or sunshine?
- Pencil or pen?
- Shoes or sandals?
- Juice or milk?
- Park or playground?
- Big house or small house?
- Bicycle or scooter?
- Car or bus?
- Sweet or salty?
- Swimming or running?
Funny This or That Questions
Funny choices can make children laugh while keeping the conversation going.
- Giant nose or giant ears?
- Sneezing bubbles or loud hiccups?
- Talking like a robot or walking like a penguin?
- Purple hair or green eyebrows?
- Tiny food or giant food?
- Pet dinosaur or pet dragon?
- Jumping like a frog or waddling like a duck?
- Shoes on the wrong feet or shirt backward?
- Monkey teacher or parrot principal?
- Laughing when you talk or singing when you walk?
- Tail or wings?
- Treehouse or castle?
- Tiny as an ant or tall as a giant?
- Spaghetti hair or popcorn teeth?
- Speaking only in rhymes or speaking only in questions?
Food and Drink This or That Questions
Food questions are easy conversation starters because children usually have strong preferences.
- Pizza or burgers?
- Fries or chips?
- Apples or oranges?
- Bananas or grapes?
- Cake or cookies?
- Ice cream or chocolate?
- Pancakes or waffles?
- Sandwiches or noodles?
- Rice or pasta?
- Cheese or chocolate?
- Popcorn or candy?
- Donuts or cupcakes?
- Hot chocolate or milkshake?
- Milk or juice?
- Water or lemonade?
- Strawberries or blueberries?
- Watermelon or mango?
- Soup or salad?
- Eggs or cereal?
- Chicken or fish?
- Sweet food or spicy food?
- Breakfast or dinner?
- Homemade food or restaurant food?
- Crunchy food or soft food?
Food Conversation Practice:
Ask children to give a reason after choosing.
- “Pizza or pasta?”
- “I choose pizza because I love cheese.”
- “Apples or mangoes?”
- “I choose mangoes because they are sweet.”
School and Classroom This or That Questions
Teachers can use these questions as warm-up activities, speaking practice, or short brain breaks.
- Math or English?
- Reading or writing?
- Science or art?
- History or geography?
- Homework or classwork?
- Pencil or pen?
- Notebook or tablet?
- Books or computers?
- Group work or individual work?
- Drawing or painting?
- Reading aloud or silent reading?
- School library or playground?
- Morning class or afternoon class?
- Quiz or project?
- Writing stories or reading stories?
- Spelling or vocabulary?
- Classroom games or worksheets?
- Presentations or written assignments?
- Working with a partner or working alone?
- Learning indoors or outdoors?
Family and Home This or That Questions
Parents can use these questions during meals, family time, or casual conversations.
- Breakfast or dinner?
- Bedroom or living room?
- TV or books?
- Cooking or cleaning?
- Staying home or going outside?
- Family movie or family game?
- Early bedtime or late bedtime?
- Hot shower or cold shower?
- Big room or small room?
- Garden or balcony?
- Playing indoors or outdoors?
- Family trip or family picnic?
- Board games or card games?
- Music or movies?
- Cooking together or eating together?
- Weekend at home or weekend outside?
- Reading before bed or talking before bed?
- Helping in the kitchen or helping in the garden?
Friends and Social This or That Questions
These questions help children talk about friendships, communication, and shared interests.
- One best friend or many friends?
- Talking or texting?
- Playing together or studying together?
- Sharing toys or sharing snacks?
- Birthday party or sleepover?
- Playing games or watching movies?
- Indoor games or outdoor games?
- Making crafts or playing sports?
- Visiting friends or inviting friends over?
- Giving gifts or receiving gifts?
- Group activity or one-on-one activity?
- Funny friend or quiet friend?
- Team games or individual games?
- Talking face-to-face or sending messages?
Animals and Pets This or That Questions
Animal choices are especially useful for younger learners.
- Dogs or cats?
- Rabbits or hamsters?
- Lions or tigers?
- Dolphins or whales?
- Horses or cows?
- Birds or fish?
- Pandas or koalas?
- Elephants or giraffes?
- Butterflies or bees?
- Penguins or polar bears?
- Snakes or lizards?
- Frogs or turtles?
- Farm animals or wild animals?
- Small pets or large pets?
- Aquarium or zoo?
- Pet dog or pet cat?
- Ride a horse or swim with dolphins?
Games and Technology This or That Questions
Older children can use these questions to discuss entertainment and technology.
- Video games or board games?
- Tablet or computer?
- Phone or television?
- Headphones or speakers?
- Online games or offline games?
- Racing games or puzzle games?
- Adventure games or sports games?
- Movies or YouTube videos?
- Camera or video camera?
- Keyboard or touchscreen?
- Digital books or printed books?
- Gaming with friends or playing alone?
- Watching a movie or playing a game?
- Drawing digitally or drawing on paper?
- Technology at home or technology at school?
Sports and Outdoor This or That Questions
Use these questions during physical education classes, outdoor activities, or family discussions.
- Soccer or basketball?
- Cricket or tennis?
- Swimming or running?
- Cycling or walking?
- Football or baseball?
- Volleyball or badminton?
- Hiking or camping?
- Skateboarding or roller skating?
- Indoor sports or outdoor sports?
- Team sports or individual sports?
- Playing or watching sports?
- Beach games or park games?
- Mountain biking or road cycling?
- Morning exercise or evening exercise?
- Playing in the rain or playing in the sunshine?
Travel and Adventure This or That Questions
Travel questions encourage children to imagine places, activities, and experiences.
- Beach or mountains?
- City or countryside?
- Hotel or camping?
- Car trip or airplane trip?
- Train or bus?
- Museum or amusement park?
- Zoo or aquarium?
- Forest or desert?
- Island or mainland?
- Summer vacation or winter vacation?
- Road trip or flight?
- Famous city or quiet village?
- Historical place or modern city?
- Picnic or sightseeing?
- Adventure trip or relaxing vacation?
- Explore a cave or climb a mountain?
- Visit a castle or visit a science museum?
Nature and Weather This or That Questions
These choices work especially well in science and English classrooms.
- Rain or sunshine?
- Summer or winter?
- Spring or autumn?
- Snow or rain?
- Sunrise or sunset?
- Ocean or forest?
- River or lake?
- Mountains or valleys?
- Clouds or stars?
- Thunder or wind?
- Hot weather or cold weather?
- Sunny day or cloudy day?
- Flowers or trees?
- Daytime or nighttime?
- Camping in summer or camping in winter?
Birthday and Party This or That Questions
These questions can make birthday parties and classroom celebrations more interactive.
- Cake or cupcakes?
- Balloons or decorations?
- Games or dancing?
- Gifts or cards?
- Indoor party or outdoor party?
- Pizza or sandwiches?
- Chocolate cake or vanilla cake?
- Music or movies?
- Treasure hunt or musical chairs?
- Birthday crown or party hat?
- Small party or big party?
- Family party or friends’ party?
- Cake at home or cake at a restaurant?
- Party games or craft activities?
Holiday This or That Questions
Children can compare their favorite holidays, traditions, foods, and activities.
- Christmas or Halloween?
- New Year or birthday?
- Gifts or decorations?
- Holiday trip or holiday at home?
- Family dinner or family games?
- Cookies or cake?
- Holiday movies or holiday music?
- Snowy holiday or sunny holiday?
- Decorating a tree or decorating a room?
- Giving gifts or making gifts?
- Holiday stories or holiday songs?
- Staying home or visiting relatives?
This or That Questions for Different Ages
The best questions depend on the child’s age and language level.
For Grade 1–3 Students
Use short questions with familiar vocabulary.
- Cats or dogs?
- Red or blue?
- Cake or ice cream?
- Summer or winter?
- Books or toys?
- Milk or juice?
- Park or playground?
- Fish or birds?
- Drawing or coloring?
- Singing or dancing?
For Grade 4–6 Students
Introduce choices that encourage explanations.
- Reading or watching movies?
- Team sports or individual sports?
- City life or country life?
- Science or art?
- Camping or staying in a hotel?
- Books or video games?
- Morning or evening?
- Beach vacation or mountain vacation?
- Working alone or with friends?
- School projects or quizzes?
For Grade 7–10 Students
Older students can explain opinions and compare ideas.
- Social media or face-to-face communication?
- Online learning or classroom learning?
- Part-time work or extracurricular activities?
- Traveling alone or traveling with friends?
- Reading fiction or nonfiction?
- City life or rural life?
- Saving money or spending money on experiences?
- Team projects or individual projects?
- Watching documentaries or fictional movies?
- Studying in the morning or at night?
This or That Questions for Students
This or That for Kids can be a useful ESL speaking activity because students repeatedly practice common sentence patterns.
Teach students to answer with:
- “I choose ___.”
- “I prefer ___.”
- “I like ___ better.”
- “I would choose ___ because ___.”
- “I prefer ___ to ___.”
- “My choice is ___ because ___.”
Beginner ESL Practice
Question:
- “Tea or juice?”
Answer:
- “I choose juice.”
Intermediate ESL Practice
Question:
- “Beach or mountains?”
Answer:
- “I prefer the mountains because I enjoy hiking.”
Advanced ESL Practice
Question:
- “Online learning or classroom learning?”
Answer:
- “I prefer classroom learning because I can interact directly with my teacher and classmates.”
How Parents Can Use This or That Questions
Parents do not need a special activity to use these questions.
Try them during:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Car rides
- Family walks
- Bedtime
- Weekend activities
- Shopping trips
- Holidays
- Family game nights
- Waiting rooms
For better conversation, follow a choice with a short question:
- “Pizza or burgers?”
- “Why?”
- “What is your favorite pizza topping?”
- “Would you choose the same food tomorrow?”
This can turn a one-word answer into a natural conversation.
How Teachers Can Use This or That Questions
Teachers can use the questions for speaking, vocabulary, listening, and classroom interaction.
Quick Warm-Up:
- Ask three questions at the beginning of class.
- Students answer by raising their left or right hand.
- Ask a few students to explain their choices.
Speaking Practice:
- Put students into pairs.
- Student A asks a question.
- Student B chooses an option and gives a reason.
- Students switch roles.
Vocabulary Practice:
Use vocabulary from the current lesson.
For example, during a weather lesson:
- Rain or sunshine?
- Hot or cold?
- Windy or calm?
- Snow or rain?
Writing Practice:
Ask students to choose five questions and write one or two sentences explaining each answer.
How to Make the Game More Fun
The game becomes more engaging when children have different ways to respond.
Try:
- Raising one hand for the first choice and two hands for the second.
- Moving to different sides of the classroom.
- Standing for one choice and sitting for the other.
- Drawing their choice.
- Writing answers on mini whiteboards.
- Asking a partner before answering.
- Giving one reason for every choice.
- Keeping score for fun classroom competitions.
- Creating their own questions.
- Voting as a group.
For older students, ask them to defend their choice politely.
- “I disagree because…”
- “I understand your choice, but I prefer…”
- “My reason is…”
- “I chose this because…”
This or That Questions for Everyday Conversations
Children can use these questions outside school too.
At Breakfast:
- Eggs or cereal?
- Milk or juice?
- Toast or pancakes?
On the Way to School:
- Walk or bus?
- Music or silence?
- Morning or afternoon classes?
During Free Time:
- Read or play?
- Draw or write?
- Watch a movie or play a game?
At Home:
- Cook or order food?
- TV or books?
- Indoor games or outdoor games?
On a Family Trip:
- Beach or mountains?
- Hotel or camping?
- Museum or amusement park?
With Friends:
- Soccer or basketball?
- Movies or games?
- Pizza or burgers?
How to Answer This or That Questions
There are several natural ways to answer.
Very Short Answer:
- “Dogs.”
- “Summer.”
- “Pizza.”
Complete Sentence:
- “I choose dogs.”
- “I prefer summer.”
- “I would choose pizza.”
Answer With a Reason:
- “I choose dogs because they are friendly.”
- “I prefer summer because I like swimming.”
- “I would choose pizza because it is my favorite food.”
Encourage students to use complete sentences when the goal is English speaking practice.
Practice Activity: Choose and Explain
Use these questions for a quick speaking exercise.
- Cats or dogs?
- Summer or winter?
- Books or movies?
- Pizza or burgers?
- Beach or mountains?
- Soccer or basketball?
- Reading or drawing?
- City or countryside?
- Morning or night?
- Camping or hotel?
After choosing, students can use this sentence:
- “I choose ___ because ___.”
Example:
- “I choose books because I enjoy reading stories.”
FAQs About This or That Questions
This or That Questions for Kids are two-choice questions that ask children to select between two options, such as cats or dogs, summer or winter, or pizza or burgers.
A good question is short, familiar, and easy to answer. For example, “Would you rather choose pizza or burgers?” gives children two clear choices.
Ask a question with two options and let each child choose one. You can then ask “Why?” to encourage speaking and conversation.
Yes. They give ESL students repeated practice with everyday vocabulary, preferences, sentence patterns, listening, and speaking.
Funny examples include “Would you rather talk like a robot or walk like a penguin?” and “Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet dragon?”
Yes. Teachers can use them as warm-ups, speaking exercises, vocabulary activities, brain breaks, partner work, and quick classroom polls.
Parents can ask them during meals, car rides, bedtime, family games, or weekends. Adding “Why?” helps turn short choices into meaningful conversations.
Conclusion
This or That Questions for Kids are an easy way to make everyday conversations more interactive. Kids can choose foods, activities, subjects, animals, sports, travel ideas, and funny imaginary options while practicing communication and English vocabulary.
- Parents can use them for family conversations.
- Teachers can use them for classroom speaking activities.
- ESL learners can practice useful sentence patterns.
- Younger children can answer with one word.
- Older students can explain and defend their choices.
The best part is that there is no single correct answer. The choice starts the conversation, and the reason behind it makes the conversation more interesting.
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