This or That Questions for Kids, from Preschool to 5th Grade

Pairs sorted by age, from preschool to 5th grade, plus seasonal and birthday lists.

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AppleorBanana
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Use them for morning meeting, classroom brain breaks, indoor recess, car rides, family dinners and birthday parties.

Jump to a section (16)
  1. This or that preschool questions (ages 3 to 5)
  2. This or that kindergarten questions
  3. This or that elementary school questions (2nd and 3rd grade)
  4. This or that questions for 4th graders and 5th graders
  5. Funny this or that questions for kids
  6. Kids this or that questions: food and animals
  7. Fall this or that for kids
  8. Halloween this or that for kids
  9. Winter this or that for kids
  10. Christmas this or that for kids
  11. Spring this or that for kids
  12. Summer this or that questions for kids
  13. This or that birthday ideas for kids
  14. How to play the this or that game for kids
  15. Tips for this or that with kids
  16. Frequently asked questions

This or that preschool questions (ages 3 to 5)

Keep preschool pairs to two things a child has seen and touched. Hold up a toy or point to a picture in a book if a child stalls.

  1. AppleorBanana?
  2. BlocksorPuzzles?
  3. BubblesorPinwheel?
  4. Teddy bearorDoll?
  5. BathorBubble bath?
  6. PurpleorOrange?
  7. SandboxorSwings?
  8. DucksorFrogs?
  9. Fire truckorSchool bus?
  10. Play-DohorFinger paint?
  11. MoonorStars?
  12. CoworPig?
  13. Rain bootsorSneakers?
  14. Story timeorSong time?
  15. TractororDigger?
  16. CrownorCape?
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This or that kindergarten questions

These this or that questions for kindergarten use short words a teacher can say aloud. This or that for kindergarten works best as a movement game: hop to the door side for the first option and the window side for the second. Read this or that kindergarten questions slowly and say both options twice.

  1. SlideorSwings?
  2. CrayonsorStickers?
  3. LadybugsorSnails?
  4. CupcakeorPopsicle?
  5. DinosaurorShark?
  6. TrampolineorBounce house?
  7. Pirate shiporCastle?
  8. TrainorAirplane?
  9. BalletorKarate?
  10. Sticker chartorStamp on your hand?

This or that first grade questions

This or that 1st grade pairs can stretch a little further, because 6- and 7-year-olds start to give reasons. Ask "Why?" after every third pair.

  1. Monkey barsorSeesaw?
  2. ChalkorJump rope?
  3. Puppet showorMagic show?
  4. KiteorPaper airplane?
  5. ZooorFarm?
  6. Mac and cheeseorTacos?
  7. Recess outsideorRecess in the gym?
  8. Class petorClass garden?

This or that elementary school questions (2nd and 3rd grade)

These this or that elementary questions fit 2nd and 3rd grade, when kids can read the pair themselves. Teachers use this or that for elementary students as a warm-up before reading groups. Add a "Why?" after each pair and let two kids explain.

  1. TreehouseorIgloo?
  2. Robot friendorAlien friend?
  3. SuperheroorKnight?
  4. LegoorMagna-Tiles?
  5. CampingorSleepover?
  6. Hot dogorHamburger?
  7. SkateboardorRoller skates?
  8. ComicsorPicture books?
  9. Outer spaceorUnder the sea?
  10. PenguinorPolar bear?
  11. DraworBuild?
  12. Water parkorAmusement park?
  13. Talking dogorTalking cat?
  14. SpyorDetective?

This or that questions for 4th graders and 5th graders

Older elementary kids want pairs with a twist. This or that for 5th graders and 4th graders should make them weigh two odd choices, like these this or that 5th grade pairs.

  1. Breathe underwaterorTalk to animals?
  2. Be a giantorBe tiny?
  3. No homework everorNo chores ever?
  4. Live in a castleorLive on a spaceship?
  5. Read mindsorTurn invisible?
  6. Be the teacherorBe the principal?
  7. Time machineorShrink ray?
  8. Win a spelling beeorWin a science fair?
  9. Pet octopusorPet parrot?
  10. Build a robotorTrain a dragon?
  11. Be a YouTuberorBe an astronaut?
  12. Live in the jungleorLive in the desert?
  13. Invent a new sportorInvent a new candy?
  14. Ride in a submarineorRide in a hot air balloon?

Funny this or that questions for kids

Silly this or that questions for kids get the biggest laughs from ages 6 to 10. Read these this or that questions funny for kids in a serious voice for extra giggles.

In a long list of this or that questions for kids, funny ones work best at the end, when attention drops.

  1. Burp the alphabetorSneeze confetti?
  2. Bath in Jell-OorBath in pudding?
  3. Elephant noseorGiraffe neck?
  4. Pickle ice creamorKetchup cereal?
  5. Hair made of spaghettiorFingers made of crayons?
  6. Walk like a craborHop like a frog?
  7. Talk like a robotorSing everything?
  8. Clown shoesorBunny ears?
  9. Smell like popcornorSmell like cookies?
  10. Ride a dinosaurorRide a unicorn?
  11. Tickle monsterorPillow fight?
  12. Chicken legsorDuck feet?

Kids this or that questions: food and animals

This or that kids edition pairs about food and animals work at every age from 4 to 11. These this or that kids questions start debates fast. The this or that questions kids argue about longest are often food pairs, so save one for the end.

  1. PizzaorChicken nuggets?
  2. StrawberriesorBlueberries?
  3. PancakesorCereal?
  4. Grilled cheeseorPB and J?
  5. Goldfish crackersorPretzels?
  6. Chocolate milkorJuice box?
  7. Ice cream coneorMilkshake?
  8. PuppyorKitten?
  9. LionorTiger?
  10. BunnyorHamster?
  11. DolphinorWhale?
  12. HorseorPony?
  13. BeeorButterfly?
  14. MonkeyorElephant?

Fall this or that for kids

Use this this or that fall edition for kids from September to November.

  1. Leaf pileorHay ride?
  2. Apple pickingorPumpkin patch?
  3. Apple pieorPumpkin pie?
  4. ScarecroworOwl?
  5. Corn mazeorApple cider?
  6. Rake leavesorJump in leaves?

Halloween this or that for kids

These this or that halloween questions for kids stay friendly, with no gore, so preschoolers can play too.

  1. GhostorWitch?
  2. Candy cornorLollipops?
  3. Carve a pumpkinorPaint a pumpkin?
  4. Trick or treatorHalloween party?
  5. BatorBlack cat?
  6. Superhero costumeorAnimal costume?
  7. Glow stickorFlashlight?
  8. MummyorMonster?

Winter this or that for kids

This this or that winter edition for kids fits December through February. Read winter this or that for kids pairs on indoor recess days, when everyone needs to move.

These this or that winter questions for kids work as a movement game: kids shiver on one side or stomp like a snowman on the other.

  1. SnowmanorSnow angel?
  2. SleddingorIce skating?
  3. MittensorGloves?
  4. Hot cocoaorWarm cider?
  5. Snowball fightorSnow fort?
  6. Snow dayorPajama day?
  7. IciclesorSnowflakes?
  8. Fuzzy socksorSlippers?

Christmas this or that for kids

Christmas this or that questions for kids work at a class holiday party or a family dinner. Let the youngest child read the first pair.

  1. ElforReindeer?
  2. Gingerbread houseorSugar cookies?
  3. Candy caneorGingerbread man?
  4. Open one gift earlyorWait for morning?
  5. Decorate the treeorWrap presents?
  6. Christmas lightsorChristmas cookies?

Spring this or that for kids

Spring this or that for kids pairs suit March through May, when kids want to get outside.

  1. Puddle jumpingorKite flying?
  2. FlowersorRainbows?
  3. Easter eggsorChocolate bunny?
  4. CaterpillarorTadpole?
  5. Plant seedsorPick flowers?
  6. Baby chicksorBaby ducks?

Summer this or that questions for kids

Use these summer this or that questions for kids on the last week of school or on a road trip.

  1. SprinklerorKiddie pool?
  2. BeachorLake?
  3. PopsicleorSnow cone?
  4. FirefliesorFireworks?
  5. SandcastleorSeashells?
  6. CamporStaycation?
  7. Lemonade standorIce cream truck?

This or that birthday ideas for kids

At a birthday party, ask the birthday child the pair first. Guests guess the answer, then cheer when it is revealed.

  1. BalloonsorStreamers?
  2. Party hatorCrown?
  3. PiñataorTreasure hunt?
  4. Chocolate cakeorFunfetti cake?
  5. Party gamesorBounce house time?
  6. Goody bagorParty favor toy?

How to play the this or that game for kids

This or that games for kids need no supplies. The this or that game kids under 8 like best is the movement version below.

  1. Pick 8 to 10 this or that game questions for kids from the section that matches their age.
  2. Show where to go: one side of the room for the first option, the other side for the second. At a table, kids point left or right.
  3. Read each this or that question for kids as "A or B?" and count "1, 2, 3, go" so everyone moves at once.
  4. Ask one child on each side, "Why did you pick that?" Keep answers to one sentence.
  5. Bring everyone back to the middle and read the next pair.
  6. End with a quiet pair, such as "Nap or Book?", to calm the group down.

This or that for kids with pictures, prompts and printables

Kids who cannot read yet answer faster with this or that pictures for kids. This site has no image files, so make your own this or that images for kids. In Canva or Google Slides, use one slide per pair, a photo on each half, and the word under each photo.

For a printed this or that list for kids, use this page's print layout (browser Print, or Save as PDF). For this or that writing prompts for kids, print 5 pairs. Add a sentence frame under each one: I pick ___ because ___. Any pair on this page works as one of these this or that prompts for kids.

Tips for this or that with kids

  • Skip food pairs with kids under 6. They often pick whatever they ate last.
  • Avoid pairs about family, money or looks. A child without a pet or a big house should never feel left out.
  • Collect this or that ideas for kids from the kids themselves after round one. A 7-year-old's pair often gets the loudest reaction.
  • Use it as a car-ride this or that activity for kids: the driver reads the pair, and kids answer before the next mailbox.
  • Keep a running note of this or that for kids questions on your phone, so you always have 10 ready.
  • Use the random picker at /this-or-that-generator when you need a fresh pair without a list.

Frequently asked questions

What are this or that questions for kids?

This or that questions for kids are simple two-choice prompts, such as "Cats or Dogs?" or "Slide or Swings?", that a child answers by picking one side. Parents, teachers and party hosts use them for car rides, morning meeting, brain breaks and birthday games. Kids ages 3 to 11 can play, as long as the pairs match their age.

Good this or that examples for kids use two things a child already likes, such as Slide or Swings, Puppy or Kitten, and Pizza or Chicken nuggets. Both sides should be tempting so kids think before they pick. Match the pairs to age: concrete for preschool, silly for 4th and 5th grade.

Read a pair aloud, and kids move to one side of the room or point to show their pick. Ask one child per side why they chose it, then read the next pair. Ten pairs take about 5 minutes with a small group.

Fun this or that questions for kids on a car ride need no pictures: Dinosaur or Shark, Treehouse or Igloo, and Talking dog or Talking cat. The driver reads the pair, and each kid answers before the next stop sign. Swap who reads every 10 minutes.

Funny this or that questions for kids include Burp the alphabet or Sneeze confetti, Pickle ice cream or Ketchup cereal, and Elephant nose or Giraffe neck. Kids ages 6 to 10 laugh hardest at pairs where both sides are silly.

Kindergarten teachers use short, concrete pairs like Slide or Swings, Crayons or Stickers, and Dinosaur or Shark. Say the pair aloud and have kids hop to one side of the rug. Five pairs make a 2-minute brain break between centers.

No image files live on this site, but you can make picture cards in a few minutes. In Canva or Google Slides, split a slide in half, add a photo of each option, and write the word under it. Pictures help preschool and kindergarten kids who cannot read yet.

Yes. Use your browser's Print or Save as PDF option on this page for a clean, print-friendly list. This site does not offer a separate printable download. Cut the printed pairs into strips and let kids draw one from a jar.

This or that questions for 5th graders work best with a twist: Read minds or Turn invisible, No homework ever or No chores ever, and Be a giant or Be tiny. Fifth graders like to argue, so give each side 30 seconds to make its case.

Halloween this or that questions for kids include Ghost or Witch, Carve a pumpkin or Paint a pumpkin, and Trick or treat or Halloween party. Keep them friendly with no scary or gory options, so younger kids enjoy the game too.

Yes. Read pairs like Party hat or Crown and Piñata or Treasure hunt, and guests guess what the birthday child will pick. It fills 10 minutes while pizza arrives and needs no supplies.

Pairs about animals, food and recess work in any grade: Puppy or Kitten, Pizza or Chicken nuggets, and Slide or Swings. Younger kids answer by moving, and older kids add a reason. This or that questions for elementary students also make a quick morning announcement poll.

Christmas this or that questions for kids include Elf or Reindeer, Candy cane or Gingerbread man, and Open one gift early or Wait for morning. Read them at a class party or while decorating the tree, and let each child explain one pick.

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