How it works
These icebreaker questions for kids suit a first day of school or a first club meeting, ages 5 to 12. A five year old can answer an Easy card in a word, and none asks about home or family.
Read the full guide
Easy for ages 5 to 7, Medium for 8 to 12
Easy cards suit kindergarten to second grade: 87 such as "Which animal has the best tail?" The 33 Medium cards ask for a sentence, such as "How do you pick who goes first?" Hands up is the gentlest start: read the choices and each child raises a hand for one, so nobody speaks alone in a new class.
Why no card asks about home
Children in one room do not share the same home, family or summer, so a question about any of them leaves someone out. These cards ask about what the whole room has: recess, animals, food and pretend. Pet cards ask which pet a child would pick, never which pet they have.
- Sit in a circle and pass a beanbag: whoever holds it answers, then hands it on.
- Clubs and teams holds 16 cards for a first scout, sports or after-school meeting, such as "What animal should be our mascot?"
- When the wiggles start, deal "Can you make an animal sound for the group to guess?" from the Animals topic.
Questions and answers
What ages are these icebreaker questions for kids written for?
Ages 5 to 12. An adult reads the cards aloud, so nobody needs to read yet. Easy cards suit kindergarten to second grade and Medium cards ages 8 to 12. From sixth grade up, the middle school deck in this family is drier and quicker.
Can I use the deck for morning meeting all year?
Yes. Match the topic to the week: Animals before a zoo trip, Pretend on a Friday. The Morning meeting question under the deck changes once a day and is the same on every screen, so it can go on the board before the bell.
Is every card safe to read to a class?
Yes. Each card was screened for children: nothing scary, no brands or shows, no phones, and nothing about bodies, money or family. No card asks a child to name or choose another child, so nobody is picked last.