Our children play a massive role in our lives; hence, it is no surprise that some people are looking for new ways to bond with them. However, it’s usually your kids that tend to bombard you with various questions. This bonding method is due to a need for social interaction, especially as a positive relationship helps them grow beyond their limits. Likewise, you can bombard them with some questions to test their wits and help their curiosity expand.
There are several categories of questions worth asking your children, which include:
Naturally, you can also choose to ask more personal questions. However, these categories act as a solid baseline that can help further establish your bond with your children. You might even end up learning something you wouldn’t have ever expected! The simplicity of asking a single question can be done while participating in other activities, such as:
You can also opt to ask these questions while doing other activities; the possibilities are endless!
A “Would You Rather” question is a type of statement that asks somebody else if they would rather go with option A or option B. You can even add in more options in some instances, although two choices are often enough for your children to ponder about. An example would be: “Would you rather be an astronaut or a basketball player?” These questions focus on a few options that tend to be radically different from one another, although there are some more general questions as well.
Let’s consider the previous “Would you rather” question and the implications it might have for you and your kid. If they choose to be a basketball player, perhaps they have an interest in the sport, athleticism, and a desire for fame. Likewise, it could also mean they might fear heights and advanced mathematics. On the opposite spectrum, choosing the astronaut career might mean your child is scientifically curious and has a desire to explore the world. Similarly, they might have no desire to be on television. Of course, these are only some possibilities; you still need to prod your child with more questions to discover their true self.
The following are some “Would you rather” questions you can try to ask your kids (interpret the answers accordingly):
Trivia questions are simple and straightforward. As their name implies, you simply ask your child a question that isn’t necessarily personal. An example would be, “Who was the first president of the United States?” The answer would be “George Washington.”
Trivia questions are meant to test your kid’s intellect (as well for seeing if they pay attention to classes and TV shows). Generally, it would be best if you asked them questions they would honestly be interested in answering. For example, if your child doesn’t know cricket as a sport, then asking them, “Who has the highest batting average in cricket as of right now?” wouldn’t be a particularly fun activity. They won’t know who Donald Bradman is, and they’ll be more confused than anything else.
Instead, some of these more general trivia questions may appeal to you and your child’s desires. Of course, you are always free to make your own more specialized trivia questions for a better bonding experience. Either way, these questions should inspire you:
“Never Have I Ever” questions are quite simple: first, you ask your child a statement such as, “Never Have I Ever double dipped my chips in a sauce.”
Second, you perform an action relevant to the game you’re playing with your kids. There are two things regarding “Never Have I Ever” questions that tend to throw off adults. First, these types of questions are more like a statement than a true question. Second, you typically don’t just say statements to your kids; you need to put stakes in the game to make it interesting.
You can make any kind of game incorporate this general idea. If you’re looking for a baseline to start with, the following game idea may help inspire you. First, you start with a snack bowl of some kind. Some people may prefer candy; others may prefer something more refined. Either way, it has to be something you and your kids enjoy eating.
Once you decide which food to start with, you need to allocate a dozen or so pieces to each “player” participating in this series of “Never Have I Ever” questions. Then, you need to decide who starts first and what is the following turn order. Afterward, that player makes one of the “Never Have I Ever” statements. It can be from a series of cards or something else. If somebody has done the action in the statement, then they can eat one of their snacks. The player with the most snacks by the end wins and can get an extra serving or something else that may be more enticing.
The following are some good example “Never Have I Ever” statements for you and your kids:
These types of questions are the most common ones you ask your children on a day-to-day basis. Questions such as “What is your favorite color?” or “Where is your dream vacation?” are prime examples of a “Get to Know You” type of question. When you’re trying to get to know your children more, these questions can help you understand their motivations and aspirations.
As this archetype is one of the most intuitive ones on this list, it should be obvious enough to good parents why you should ask your kids these questions. Not only does it help establish a more positive relationship between the two parties, but it can also help you buy more relevant items and services for your beloved kids.
Some good starting examples of “Get to Know You” questions include:
Sometimes, you don’t have too much time to devote to a large game or simply wish to combine a quick set of questions with another one for fun. Either way, that’s why “True or False” questions are so popular! Your kid has a 50/50 chance of getting it right, and children love winning! By comparison, a “True or False” question can be analyzed and answered by your kid more quickly than if asked questions from the other categories.
Even if your kid doesn’t know the correct answer, some of these questions may surprise them! If you intend to have fun and mess around with some minor questions, the “True or False” type of questions are best suited for your needs. It’s simple, it’s quick, and it’s a blast for the whole family!
Some good starting questions for the “True or False” category include:
When somebody asks a question meant to “break the ice,” they’re generally trying to lighten the mood and try to find out more from the person they’re asking the question toward. It can be highly similar to a “Get to Know You” question, except it’s usually not as relevant or important to a person’s overall future.
“Ice Breaker” questions are typically used to lead-in for more serious questions, like the “Get to Know You” type of questions. It can also be used to recover from an awkward situation. Suppose you fail in asking this type of question. In that case, it can create an even more uncomfortable situation, so try to alleviate the situation with an “Ice Breaker” your kids will respond to positively.
These standard examples are general, yet they fulfill their purpose in leading your child to a more interesting conversation:
Most people have played Truth or Dare at some point in their life. It’s a simple game; you are given two options, which are “Truth” or “Dare.” If you select “Truth,” then you need to answer a question somebody asks you honestly. If you choose “Dare,” then you need to perform an action they dare you to do.
Of course, you should always establish rules before participating in it, especially with your kids. Remember to keep it appropriate, but not boring! It’s often done with spinning a bottle, but you can incorporate your own rules to spice things up.
Some good, clean questions to ask your kids include:
Above all else, you should try to have fun with your children. Remember to diversify your questions (you don’t want to ask them the same ones each time)! If you ask them interesting questions, you might find out stuff about your kids you never knew before! It’s a simple bonding exercise, but it’s surprisingly easy to implement with other fun activities (TV time, gaming, etc.).