Top 100+ Best Riddles For Kids Of All Ages With Best Answers

Top 100+ Best Riddles For Kids Of All Ages (With Answers)

A riddle is a statement, question or phrase that has a double meaning. When someone uses a riddle, it can be a thought-provoking challenge to figure it out on your own, or it can be a funny comment that makes you laugh. They require critical thinking — and a sense of humor — to solve correctly. Keep reading for examples of riddles for kids, adults and anyone who loves solving puzzles!

Riddles can be great brain busters or conversation starters to get you to think. The answer can be right in front of your nose and even in the riddle itself, or it can be difficult and hard to comprehend.

Riddles for kids are a great way to practice communication skills. They are a bit more complex than jokes but are less complicated than analogies.

Most kids have a natural aptitude for the type of thinking riddles require and will surprise you with how well they tackle a stumper. The best riddles engage a kid’s natural problem-solving skills and make them laugh along the way. These 100+ easy riddles for kids — ranging from easy to hard — are great for children of all ages to solve and have fun while doing so.

Different Types of Riddles

A riddle is a statement, question, or phrase that has a double meaning. A riddle can also be described as a puzzle to be solved. There are two types of riddles: enigmas and conundra.

• An enigma is a problem in which the solution is expressed metaphorically. You have to carefully think about the riddle to come up with the solution.
• A conundrum is a question that opens either the question or the answer.

A riddle, however, doesn’t need to be classified as one of these types. As long as it is difficult to figure out and has an answer or a meaning to it, it can be classified as a riddle. Today, riddles aren’t used as much as they were in ancient times, but they remain a definite way to get your mind working.

How to help your child create their own riddles

Once your child has completed our list of riddles, take their skills to the next level with homemade riddles! Encourage your child to create their own riddles using the following steps:

1. Start with the answer

Come up with the solution to your riddle first, then work backward to create your question. Your solution can be almost anything, but choosing a physical object is an easy way to start.

Ex. The answer to my riddle is “carrot.”

2. Brainstorm

Write down any words or phrases that could be associated with your answer.

Consider:

• Synonyms
• Similar things
• Things it does
• Features it has
• How to describe it

Ex. Carrots are orange with green leaves on top.

3. Think like your answer

If your answer were a person, what would they think? What would they do? How would they describe themselves? How would they see the world around them?

Ex. If I were a carrot, I might think I was wearing a green hat.

4. Think outside the sentence

Use figurative language — like a metaphor, simile, personification or hyperbole — to make comparisons or describe your answer in new ways. This is often what makes the riddle tricky for the reader to solve.

Ex. A carrot sounds like “a parrot.”

5. Write your riddle!

Now that you have the backbone of your riddle, the only thing left to do is write! Use clear, descriptive language to write out your riddle, then share it with friends and family to see if they can solve it.

Ex. I’m orange, wear a green hat and sound like a parrot. What am I?

A carrot!

How many riddles did your child get right? Which one was their favorite?

Riddles for Kids: Some Ground Rules

Riddles should be fun, and to make sure the riddles you share with your kids are fun, it’s best to follow a few ground rules.

Rule #1: The riddles have to be in the language the kids involved speak. So, if the kids you’re riddling speak English, make sure the riddle can be understood in that language.

Rule #2: Give the kids a theme to orient them in the right direction. So, give them a head’s up that you’re giving them an animal riddle when the answer involves an animal. Let them know they’ll have to think in numbers when you give them a math riddle. In every way you can, give the kids the best chance to stay engaged and work hard at solving the riddles. If you’re going to be giving them a particularly tricky riddle, go ahead and let them know ahead of time.

Rule #3: Let them know it’s ok not to know things. For example, to answer most riddles, your kid needs to know what the words in the riddle mean and their various applications. For example, when you ask, “What has a head, a foot, and four legs?” your kiddo needs to know that the concept of “legs” applies not only to animals but to beds. If they don’t know that, well, the riddle is a way for you to teach them and expand their perspective and vocab.

Simple Awesome Riddles for Kids

Photo: riddlester

These riddles will engage your child without causing too much frustration. Perfect for warming up their brain so they can keep solving more!

1. How many months of the year have 28 days?

Answer: All of them! Every month has *at least* 28 days.

2. What has hands and a face, but can’t hold anything or smile?

Answer: A clock.

3. It belongs to you, but your friends use it more. What is it?

Answer: Your name.

4. Kate’s mother has three children: Snap, Crackle and ___?

Answer: Kate! It’s Kate’s mother, after all. (This is a good example of how riddles use your existing expectations to trick you. Even though the answer is right in front of you, you’re tempted to continue the pattern instead.)

5. If you don’t keep me, I’ll break. What am I?

Answer: A promise.

6. There’s only one word in the dictionary that’s spelled wrong. What is it?

Answer: The word “wrong.” It’s the only word that’s spelled W-R-O-N-G.

7. You’re running a race and at the very end, you pass the person in 2nd place. What place did you finish the race in?

Answer: You finished in 2nd place.

8. I have a tail and a head, but no body. What am I?

Answer: A coin.

9. What 2 things can you never eat for breakfast?

Answer: Lunch and dinner.

10. Which word becomes shorter when you add 2 letters to it?

Answer: The word “short.”

11. What’s the capital of France?

Answer: The letter “F.” It's the only capital letter in France.

Math riddles for kids

Math riddles are a good way to get your child practicing math while having fun. They’ll need to use their math knowledge and problem-solving skills to find the answer to these riddles.

Tip: Pair your math riddles with math puzzles and math jokes to keep your child entertained with math for ages!

12. When Grant was 8, his brother was half his age. Now, Grant is 14. How old is his brother?

Answer: His brother is 10. Half of 8 is 4, so Grant’s brother is 4 years younger. This means when Grant is 14, his brother is still 4 years younger, so he’s 10.

13. Two fathers and 2 sons spent the day fishing, but only caught 3 fish. This was enough for each of them to have one fish. How is this possible?

Answer: There were only 3 people fishing. There was one father, his son, and his son's son. This means there were 2 fathers and 2 sons, since one of them is a father and a son.

14. If two’s company, and three’s a crowd, what are four and five? / Answer: Nine!

15. After a train crashed, every single person died. Who survived? / Answer: All of the couples.

16. Four legs up, four legs down, soft in the middle, hard all around. What am I? / Answer: A bed.

17. A word I know, six letters it contains, remove one letter and 12 remains, what is it? / Answer: Dozens.

18. Liam was 11 the day before yesterday, and next year he’ll turn 14. How is this possible?

Answer: Today is January 1st, and Liam’s birthday is December 31st. Liam was 11 the day before yesterday (December 30th), then turned 12 the next day. This year on December 31st he’ll turn 13, so next year he’ll turn 14.

19. Mrs. Brown has 5 daughters. Each of these daughters has a brother. How many children does Mrs. Brown have?

Answer: They have 6 children. Each daughter has the same brother. There are 5 daughters and 1 son.

20. It’s raining at midnight, but the forecast for tomorrow and the next day is clear. Will there be sunny weather in 48 hours?

Answer: No, it won’t be sunny because it will be dark out. In 48 hours, it will be midnight again.

21. There are 3 apples in the basket and you take away 2. How many apples do you have now?

Answer: You have 2 apples. You took away 2 apples and left 1 in the basket.

22. What can you put between 7 and 8, to make the result greater than 7, but less than 8?

Answer: A decimal point. Your result would be 7.8, which is between 7 and 8.

23. A new clothing store has a unique method of pricing items. A vest costs $20, a tie costs $15, a blouse costs $30, and underwear costs $45. How much would pants cost?

Answer: $25. The pricing method charges $5 for each letter needed to spell the item.

24. 81 x 9 = 801. What do you need to do to make this equation true?

Answer: Turn it upside down. 108 = 6 x 18.

25. Double it and multiply it by 4. Then divide it by 8 and you’ll have it once more. What number is it?

Answer: Any number. If a number is doubled and multiplied by 4, it’s actually been multiplied by 8, so dividing by 8 will get you the original number again.

26. What 3 numbers give the same result when multiplied and added together?

Answer: 1, 2, and 3 (1 + 2 + 3 = 6 and 1 x 2 x 3 = 6).

27. Zoey has a very big family. She has 20 aunts, 20 uncles and 50 cousins. Each of her cousins has an aunt who is not Zoey’s aunt. How is this possible?

Answer: Their aunt is Zoey’s mom!

Funny Riddles for Kids

These witty riddles are sure to tickle your child’s funny bone.

28. When things go wrong, what can you always count on? Answer: Your fingers.

29. Why do bees have sticky hair? Answer: Because they use their honeycombs.

30. What do you call a bear with no teeth? Answer: A gummy bear.

31. What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Answer: Frostbite.

32. Why are teddy bears never hungry? Answer: Because they are always stuffed.

33. What did the duck put in its soup? Answer: Quackers.

34. Why did the tortilla chip start dancing? Answer: Because they put on the salsa.

35. Which fish costs the most? Answer. A goldfish!

36. What fruit can you never cheer up? Answer: A blueberry.

37. What word is spelled wrong in the dictionary? Answer: Wrong.

38. What kind of room has no doors or windows? Answer: A mushroom.

39. How do you catch a school of fish? Answer: With a bookworm.

40. What did the mom tomato say to the dawdling baby tomato? Answer: “Ketchup.”

Difficult Riddles for Kids

Photo: learnpanda

Kids will have a blast cracking these clever mind-benders.

41. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What are they? Answer: Footsteps.

42. Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I? Answer: The word “ton.”

43. You see me once in June, twice in November and not at all in May. What am I? Answer: The letter “e.”

44. If you drop me, I’m sure to crack, but give me a smile and I’ll always smile back. What am I? Answer: A mirror.

45. What has 13 hearts, but no other organs? Answer: A deck of cards.

46. What invention lets you look right through a wall? Answer: A window.

47. I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I? Answer: Your breath.

48. What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it? Answer: A promise.

49. What is yours but mostly used by others? Answer: Your name.

50. Which question can you never answer "yes" to? Answer: "Are you asleep?"

51. What kind of apples do computers prefer? Answer: Macintosh.

52. After an electric train crashed, every single person died. Who survived?” Answer: All of the couples.

53. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and white when you are done with it? Answer: Charcoal!

54. There were two ducks in front of a duck, two ducks behind a duck, and one duck in the middle. How many ducks were there in total? Answer: Three.

55. I am not alive, but I grow; I don’t have lungs, but I need air; I don’t have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I? Answer: Fire!

56. What’s as big as an elephant, but weighs nothing? Answer: The elephant’s shadow.

57. A girl has as many brothers as sisters, but each brother has only half as many brothers as sisters. How many brothers and sisters are there in the family? Answer: Four sisters and three brothers.

58. What is something you can put in your pocket that keeps it empty? Answer: A large hole.

59. Where would you take a sick boat? Answer: To the dock.

60. What kinds of stones are never found in the ocean? Answer: Stones that are dry.

61. What has 13 hearts, but no other organs? Answer: A deck of cards.

62. I have four eyes, yet I can’t see a thing. What am I? Answer: MISSISSIPPI

62, What is always in front of you but can’t be seen? Answer: The future

63. What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it? Answer: A promise

64. What goes up but never comes down? Answer: Your age

65. It belongs to you, but your friends and family use it more. What is it? Answer: Your name.

66. What kind of coat is best put on wet? Answer: A coat of paint

67. A man describes his daughters, saying, ‘They are all blonde, but two; all brunette but two; and all redheaded but two. How many daughters does he have? Answer: Three: A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead.

68. It stalks the countryside with ears that can’t hear. What is it? Answer: Corn

69. Robin’s mother has three children: Maria, Rose and ___? Answer: Robin

70. What can you keep after giving to someone else? Answer: Your word.

71. You’re running a race and at the very end, you pass the person in 2nd place. What place did you finish the race in? Answer: You finished in 2nd place.

72. What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? Answer: Short.

73. If two’s a company, and three’s a crowd, what are four and five? Answer: Nine.

74. What 4-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and can still be read from left to right? Answer: NOON.

75. What word is pronounced the same if you take away four of its five letters? Answer: Queue.

76. Two fathers and two sons are in a car, yet there are only three people in the car. How? Answer: They are a grandfather, father, and son.

77. What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps? Answer: A river.

78. What has four wheels and flies? Answer: A garbage truck.

79. Four legs up, four legs down, soft in the middle, hard all around. What am I? Answer: A bed.

80. I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I? Answer: Seven.

81. Three doctors said that Bill was their brother. Bill says he has no brothers. How many brothers does Bill actually have? Answer: None. He has three sisters.

82. What invention lets you look right through a wall? Answer: A window.

83. A man was driving a black truck. His lights were not on. The moon was not out. A lady was crossing the street. How did the man see her? Answer: It was a bright, sunny day.

84. What can travel all around the world without leaving its corner? Answer: A stamp.

85. Where does Friday come before Thursday? Answer: In the dictionary.

86. What runs but never gets tired? Answer: A water faucet.

87. The blue house is made with blue bricks and the red house with red bricks. What did they use to build the greenhouse with? Answer: Glass, because greenhouses are always made of glass.

88. I sometimes run, but I cannot walk. You always follow me around. What am I? Answer: Your Nose!

89. Where can you find cities, towns, shops, and streets but no people? Answer: A map.

Word Riddles For Kids

90. I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I’m the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. What am I? Answer: Also the letter “e”

91. What 4-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and can still be read from left to right? Answer: NOON

92. Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I? Answer: The word “not”

93. What is 3/7 chicken, 2/3 cat and 2/4 goat? Answer: Chicago

94. I am a word of letters three; add two and fewer there will be. What word am I? Answer: Few

95. What word of five letters has one left when two are removed? Answer: Stone

96. What is the end of everything? Answer: The letter “g”

97. What word is pronounced the same if you take away four of its five letters? Answer: Queue

98. I am a word that begins with the letter “i.” If you add the letter “a” to me, I become a new word with a different meaning, but that sounds exactly the same. What word am I? Answer: Isle (add “a” to make “aisle”)

99. What word in the English language does the following: The first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four letters signify a great, while the entire world signifies a great woman. What is the word? Answer: Heroine

100. What begins with an “e” and only contains one letter? Answer: An envelope

101. A word I know, six letters it contains, remove one letter and 12 remains. What is it? Answer: Dozens

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