The Best Riddles for Kids
My 5-year-old son and I really like riddles. I think riddles and jokes are naturally appealing to kids. They're like little puzzles for their imagination. They can stretch their minds, boost their confidence, and even allow them to explore being silly with language for the first time.
After memorizing a few riddles, kids can walk around quizzing and impressing their family and friends. It's like knowing a secret that grandma and grandpa don't know yet. You can tell my son always gets a big kick out of providing the answers - oftentimes before I get a chance to finish asking the riddle. He memorized the bridge riddle from TED-ed and he loves shouting out the entire 30-second answer after I barely spit out "Okay, so a bunch of zombies are coming towards a bridge...". If you haven't watched them, the TED-ed riddles on YouTube are very challenging, but kids still love the videos and hearing the solutions.
Riddles are an early introduction to creative, out-of-the-box style thinking, too. When my son was first introduced to the idea of a pun, you could tell his goofy, creative personality was sold on the idea very quickly.
We're pretty selective when it comes to our favorite riddles though - not all riddles are really all that clever or appealing to kids. If you happen to be like us, and you're always on the lookout for a new, quality riddle for your little ones, we hope you can find something good from this list of our very favorite riddles:
What can you put in a barrel that makes the barrel lighter?
Answer: A hole
A cowboy rode into a town on Friday. He stayed for three nights, and then he left on Friday. How is this possible?
Answer: His horse's name was Friday
The more I dry the wetter I get, what am I?
Answer: A towel
What goes up, but never comes down?
Answer: Your age
A rooster lays an egg right on the point of a roof in the morning. If the wind is blowing to the west and the sun is shining in the east, which way will the egg roll off the roof? East or West?
Answer: Neither. Roosters don't lay eggs.
When you need me, you throw me away. When you're done with me, you bring me back again. What am I?
Answer: An anchor
What belongs to you, but others use it more than you do?
Answer: Your name
What loses its head every morning, but gets it back every night?
Answer: A pillow
What jumps higher than a building?
Answer: Everything. Buildings don't jump.
What tastes better than it smells?
Answer: A tongue
A witch poisoned the iced tea at a Halloween party. The potion turns people into frogs. Billy drank 3 iced teas very quickly and was fine. Susie sipped on one iced tea for the entire night and then turned into a frog. Why didn't Billy turn into a frog?
Answer: The witch put the potion in the ice cubes. Billy drank so fast the ice hadn't melted yet.
What has a head and a tail, but no body?
Answer: A penny
Two fathers and two sons walk into an ice cream shop. They each order an ice cream cone, and the ice cream man brings them 3 cones. Why did he only bring 3?
Answer: There were 3 men - a son, his father, and the father's father. Two of them are fathers and two of them are sons.
What has a bed but never sleeps, and has a mouth but never speaks?
Answer: A river
Say my name and I'm no longer there. What am I?
Answer: Silence
What kind of room has no doors or windows?
Answer: A mushroom
What is as light as a feather, but even the strongest man can't hold it for very long?
Answer: Your breath.
What's more useful after you break it?
Answer: An egg
What keeps its two hands in front of its face, but never sees or leaves its place?
Answer: A clock
I have no beginning and I have no end. If you’re trapped inside me, there are no corners to hide in. What am I?
Answer: A circle
What has a bottom on its top?
Answer: Your legs
And finally a special riddle we made up for our son, who asked for a riddle where his name was the answer:
In the beginning I always refuse, but by the end I sound confused. Who am I?
The answer is actually our son’s name!
And there you have it. My son’s very favorite riddles for kids. You might want to memorize those answers because he will very likely quiz you if you meet. We hope you found a new riddle or two to share with your little ones. And if your kids have their own favorite riddle, please share it with us in the comments below!
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:
The Best Jokes For Kids
The Best Dad Jokes
