25+ Open Ended Questions for Curious Kids

If you are an inquiry-based teacher or parent, these open-ended questions are perfect for you. Inquiry questions for kids are a way to get kids thinking on their own terms and without any barriers. It is quite exciting to observe a child in the midst of this type of thinking. 

Open-Ended Questions for Kids

One of my big “things” as a teacher and parent is allowing children to solve problems, to come up with solutions creatively, to think critically about a problem, and to embrace failure as an opportunity. I live by this approach in whatever we happen to be doing in life – brushing teeth, building with legos, writing, climbing, changing the laundry, hiking, or any kind of STEAM project.

The Benefits of Inquiry-Based Learning

Open-ended questions are great for developing executive functioning skills. Children are natural problem solvers but there is a short window to nurture and encourage that innate curiosity. A few benefits of inquiry-based learning include:

1. A child is able to go deep on a specific topic
2. The child owns his learning
3. More engaged child
4. The child naturally becomes more curious
5. Motivation to want to learn more increases
6. Develops research skills
7. Encourages a growth mindset and personal responsibility
8. Nurture critical thinking skills
9. Teaches how to ask the right questions

Hopefully, these questions will help you guide our little problem solvers!

25+ Open-Ended Questions to Use with Kids

1. What would happen if…
2. I wonder what…
3. What do you think might happen…
4. What do you need to do to begin the project?
5. How does it work?
6. How did that happen?
7. What is your plan?
8. What do you see?
9. What do you think is happening?
10. What might you change?
11. What might you keep the same?
12. Can you think of…
13. I wonder how…
14. What do you think might happen next?
15. What should we put here?
16. What made you think of that?
17. How could you…
18. Can you think of other ways to…
19. Do you have any ideas…
20. Do you have any ideas for solutions?
21. How could we figure that out?
22. Tell me why…
23. Tell me when…
24. Tell me what…
25. Tell me how…
26. How do you come up with that solution?
27. Help me fix this…
28. Are there any other ways we could…
29. What do you think?

Have fun with these questions and get kids really thinking! Kids are natural problem solvers and scientists!

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I hope you found this list useful! Let me know your favorite open-ended questions!

Marnie