How it works
In 20 questions for kids, one player knows a secret thing and the rest ask yes or no questions until somebody names it. This deck holds 250 things kids of 5 to 10 know. The first card waits face down.
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One secret thing, twenty yes or no questions
Hand the phone to the answerer, who presses Turn the card and shows nobody. The guessers take turns with questions that have a yes or no answer, and the answerer tells the truth. Whoever names the thing takes the phone and presses Next card. If twenty questions pass, the answerer wins and goes again. Count on fingers: both hands, twice.
Ten questions at five, twenty at ten
With ages 5 to 7, press one set in the Topic row, such as Animals, so every guesser knows what kind of thing is hidden. Press Easy and allow ten questions. From age 8, leave Topic on All and play all twenty on Hard, where a sloth and a field trip hide.
- Agree the wide openers before the first card: Is it alive? Can you eat it? Is it bigger than you?
- Let the answerer say "I don't know". Nobody should have to guess if a crab has bones.
- Save "does it start with B?" for the last five questions.
Questions and answers
Which yes or no questions should kids ask first?
One for each set. Animals: does it have fur? Food: is it sweet? School things: does it fit in a backpack? Home things: is it in the kitchen? Places: is it indoors? Toys and play: does it have wheels? Save straight guesses for the end.
What if nobody guesses it in twenty questions?
The answerer has stumped the room, says the thing out loud and takes another card. With young kids a clue is kinder than a loss. Give the set at ten questions (it is a place) and the first letter at fifteen.
Which seat should a young child take first?
The guesser's. Answering is the harder seat, because the answerer has to keep a secret and judge every question. Let a grown-up or an older child answer the first few cards, then swap once the young one has seen how a round goes.
How do you play with a whole class?
One student comes up, turns the card on your phone and answers. The class asks in turn, and you tally questions on the board, since the page keeps no count. Whoever names the thing answers next. School things keeps every card inside the room.