Fun Riddles You and Your Kids Will Get a Kick Out Of

Many beloved children's characters, like Rumpelstiltskin and the Mad Hatter, are known for their playful riddles that both entertain and challenge audiences. These quirky brain teasers are more than just fun—they’re also powerful tools for learning.

Experts and authors agree that riddles help children build literacy, work together and discover creative problem-solving. While parents may find themselves puzzled by the tricky wordplay, the educational benefits are clear. Below find a collection of fun, kid-friendly riddles with answers.

How can a brain teaser can boost your kids' development?

Riddles are a fantastic way for kids to flex their critical thinking muscles. When kids hear these tricky questions, they're working on problem-solving, memory, and concentration as they tune in to catch every detail.

Experts say that riddles are especially great for little learners, including those who are starting to read. Kim Lenters, a professor at the University of Calgary specializing in children’s literacy development, explains that when kids listen closely to riddles, they're building phonemic awareness—recognizing and identifying sounds in words—while also expanding their vocabulary.

“What better way to learn new words than through the excitement of cracking a riddle?” says Lenters.

Social-emotional development

Just like tackling a challenging puzzle, solving riddles requires patience and perseverance. Although kids might be tempted to say, “Just tell me the answer,” working towards the solution can be incredibly rewarding.

Stephanie Calmenson, author of “What Am I? Very First Riddles,” shares how riddles can empower children. She recalls hearing about a student’s journey from puzzlement to the “eureka moment” of understanding. “That child’s feeling of success was clearly empowering,” she says.

Riddles also encourage collaboration. Whether it’s siblings teaming up or classmates brainstorming together, solving a riddle can create opportunities for kids to share ideas, communicate effectively, and cheer each other on.

What types of riddles are best for kids?

Get little ones excited about riddles with these funny, kid-friendly brain teasers. Or, consider challenging older children with some puzzling math and logic riddles.

Funny riddles for kids

“Children love humour,” said Lenters. “Look for riddles to share that are not just intellectually stimulating; keep your eye open for those that are just plain silly.” Check out these funny riddles to get children giggling and excited about learning.

• What two things can you never eat for breakfast? (Lunch and dinner.)
• If you take away one hand, some will remain. What am I? (Handsome.)
• What has a head and a tail but no body? (A coin.)
• What starts with the letter “P” and ends with the letter “E” and has thousands of letters? (A post office.)
• What has four wheels and flies? (A garbage truck.)
• What has keys but can’t open locks? (A piano.)
• What’s orange and sounds like a parrot? (A carrot.)
• Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long? (Because then it would be a foot.)

Easy riddles for kids

Try out these easy riddles for younger learners. Remember, you can always give them some helpful hints along the way.

• I act like a dog. I look like a dog. But, I am smaller than a dog. What am I? (A puppy.)
• The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? (Footsteps.)
• The more of this there is, the less you will see. What am I? (Darkness.)
• I am great to taste but bad to smell. What am I? (A tongue.)
• What has hands but can’t clap? (A clock.)
• What has to be broken before you can use it? (An egg.)
• What goes up but never comes down? (Your age.)
• What has an eye but can’t see? (A needle.)
• What gets wetter as it dries? (A towel.)

Animal riddles

Once your little one has mastered their animal sounds, they can put the newfound knowledge to use — and have a laugh — with these animal-themed riddles.

• I have horns, I like to bleat but remember that I’m not a sheep. What am I? (A goat.)
• I am known as a king. The jungle is where I reign. I am hard to tame. And I have a large mane. What am I? (A lion.)
• If you scare me, I might say moo. I eat grass and make milk too. What am I? (A cow.)
• You might know me as your teddy. I’m soft and furry but not so friendly. What am I? (A bear.)
• I’m small and shy. My shell is my home. What am I? (A snail.)
• I’m green and can leap very high. I live in the water and on land. What am I? (A frog.)
• I live in a hive. I make something sweet to eat. What am I? (A bee.)
• I’m black and white and loved worldwide. I eat bamboo. What am I? (A panda.)
• I’m slow and steady, I carry my home with me. What am I? (A turtle.)

Math riddles

Tell a bored kid to kill time by practicing their multiplication tables and you’ll probably receive some unfriendly eye rolls. With these math riddles, children can practice counting, dividing and measuring in a uniquely entertaining way.

• Mr. Smith has three sons. Each of his sons has one sister. How many children does Mr. Smith have? (He has four children: Three sons and one daughter.)
• If you multiply me by another number, the answer will always be the same. What am I? (Zero.)
• John is 1,000 millimetres tall and Jane is 100 centimetres tall. Who is taller? (They are the same height.)
• Zoe is ten years old and Harry is half her age. How old will Harry be when Zoe is 60? (He will be 55 years old.)
• I am an odd number. Take away one letter, and I become even. What am I? (Seven.)
• A farmer has 17 sheep, and all but nine run away. How many sheep are left? (Nine.)
• You bought a dozen eggs. All but three are cracked. How many eggs do you have? (Three.)
• How many months have 28 days? (All of them.)

Logic riddles

Tell children to put on their thinking caps before solving these extra-tricky riddles.

• What must break before you can use it? (An egg.)
•  Which month has 28 days? (All of them)
• What becomes wetter the more it dries? (A towel.)
• What weighs more: A pound of feathers or a pound of bricks? (They both weigh one pound.)
• The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? (Footsteps.)
• Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I? (The word “Ton.”)
• What can travel around the world while staying in the same spot? (A stamp.)
• What has four fingers and a thumb but isn’t alive? (A glove.)
• What can run but never walk, has a bed but never sleeps, and has a mouth but never talks? (A river.)

How can you create your own riddles?

Encouraging kids to write their own riddles can be a fun, creative activity. Stephanie Calmenson suggests starting with simple observations. “If a child wanted to write a riddle about a dog, they might start with basic clues, like saying it’s a four-footed animal with fur,” she explains. “But they’ll learn that at least one unique clue is needed to make their riddle work.”

Kim Lenters recommends starting with knock-knock riddles, as they’re simple and easy to grasp. “This will always produce wonderfully less-than-perfect attempts in the beginning, but kids’ creations will gradually become more sophisticated as the play goes on,” she says.

For younger kids, Lenters suggests pairing riddles with visual aids. Write down a child’s riddle and have them illustrate it to reinforce learning. Older children can experiment with figurative language, like similes and metaphors, to add depth to their puzzles.

Once kids have written their riddles, encourage them to share with friends or family. A puzzle-making contest can turn this into a collaborative and laughter-filled activity.

What can you do to get kids interested in riddles?

Displaying riddles on a fridge or wall can keep them top of mind and ready for future fun. Tailoring riddles to a child’s interests is another great way to keep them engaged. If your child loves dinosaurs, for example, you could ask: “I have sharp teeth, tiny arms, and a roar that shakes the ground. What am I?”

In group settings like classrooms, Lenters advises paying attention to what kids are most excited about. Whether it’s Minecraft, dinosaurs, or Taylor Swift songs, creating riddles about their favorite topics can deepen their interest and encourage learning in a fun way.

Experts

Stephanie Calmenson has written over 100 books for children, including “Dinner at the Panda Palace” and her popular “Woofing, Wagging Concept Book” series.  

Dr. Kim Lenters is a professor and tier 2 Canada research chair in language and literacy education at the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education, where her research focuses on the social and material worlds of children’s literacy development.