Weebou Editorial Team
8 min read
In this article
A little preparation
Read the riddles slowly, with a pause after each clue, and let your child answer in words, by pointing to a picture or by acting out the answer. A set of picture cards, drawn by you or your child, is useful for children who know the answer but find it hard to say. Lay out four or five pictures and let them point to the one that fits the clues.
Start with the set that matches something your child knows well, such as the kitchen or bedtime. If a word is unfamiliar, explain it before you read the riddle; ‘ladle’ might need a quick show with a spoon. Two or three riddles at a time is plenty, and you can return to the others in the car, at the table or at bedtime. Different answers may fit the clues; if your child suggests one, ask which clue it matches before deciding. A riddle should feel like a puzzle shared with a friend, not a test with a right answer to guard.
Questions to explore together
Riddles from the kitchen
Kitchen objects are good first riddle answers because children see and use them every day. The clues talk about what the thing does, what it is made of and how it feels, which helps children describe familiar objects in their own words. Hold up a real spoon or plate afterwards for a quick check.
How to do it
- Q: I have a long handle and a round bowl. I carry soup from the pot to your plate. What am I? A: A ladle.
- Q: I am cold inside and I hum all day. Open my door and a light comes on. What am I? A: A fridge.
- Q: I have a lid and a spout. I get hot and whistle when I am ready. What am I? A: A kettle.
- Q: I have four teeth but I never chew. I help you lift peas to your mouth. What am I? A: A fork.
- Q: I am round and flat and I carry your dinner. You eat from me, but never me. What am I? A: A plate.
- Q: I make bread warm and brown, and pop! I jump up when I am done. What am I? A: A toaster.
Make it your own: For younger children, show two or three real objects and let them touch the one that fits. Older children can write their own kitchen riddle with three clues, starting with the hardest.
Riddles from the school bag
Everyday school items are a lovely source of riddles, and children enjoy guessing things they carry themselves. These clues use size, sound and purpose, and some use a little wordplay, such as a spine without bones. Let your child open their bag afterwards and find each answer.
How to do it
- Q: I have a zip and two straps and I ride on your back. I carry your lunch. What am I? A: A backpack.
- Q: I have a spine but no bones, and pages that are not leaves. What am I? A: A book.
- Q: I have two blades and I cut paper when you squeeze my handles. What am I? A: Scissors.
- Q: I have numbers but I cannot count. I help you draw a straight line. What am I? A: A ruler.
- Q: I make a mistake disappear, but I get smaller each time. What am I? A: An eraser.
- Q: I wear a cap and leave a bright line wherever I go. What am I? A: A felt-tip pen.
Make it your own: Younger children can match the answer card to the real object in the bag. Older children can add a fourth clue to each riddle, or make a riddle about something in their own pencil case.
Riddles about animals
Animal riddles use sound, movement and body parts, which makes them easy to act out. Children love making the noise or the movement after they have guessed, so the answer becomes a short game. The clues here are accurate, and you can look up one fact together after each riddle.
How to do it
- Q: I have a long trunk but I am not a tree. I spray water when I wash. What am I? A: An elephant.
- Q: I carry my house on my back and I move very slowly. What am I? A: A snail.
- Q: I hop on big back legs and carry my baby in a pouch. What am I? A: A kangaroo.
- Q: I wear black and white stripes and I look like a horse. What am I? A: A zebra.
- Q: I buzz from flower to flower and I make something sweet. What am I? A: A bee.
- Q: I wake the farm at sunrise with a loud cry. What am I? A: A rooster.
Make it your own: For younger children, make the animal noise as the last clue. Older children can say one fact about the animal, such as where it lives, after they guess.
Riddles about weather and the sky
Weather and sky riddles invite children to look out of the window, and many answers can be checked straight away. The clues use colour, temperature and movement, which gives children practice in describing what they see. You could ask them to guess today’s weather by giving clues about it.
How to do it
- Q: I fall from the clouds, but I never get hurt. I make puddles. What am I? A: Rain.
- Q: I have seven colours but I am not a box of crayons. I appear after rain and sun. What am I? A: A rainbow.
- Q: I follow you everywhere but I never say a word. What am I? A: A shadow.
- Q: I am yellow and round and I keep you warm in the day. What am I? A: The sun.
- Q: I come out at night and change my shape. What am I? A: The moon.
- Q: I am white and cold and you can roll me into a ball. What am I? A: Snow.
Make it your own: Younger children can answer by pointing outside or to a picture. Older children can make a weather riddle for the next day and see whether the answer comes true.
Riddles for bedtime
Bedtime riddles are quiet, short and gentle, so they fit into a calm routine. They use soft sounds and familiar objects, and the answer is often within arm’s reach. Children who are tired can answer in a whisper or point at the object, and the game becomes part of winding down.
How to do it
- Q: You rest your head on me and I am soft. What am I? A: A pillow.
- Q: I have bristles but I am not a hedgehog. I clean your teeth. What am I? A: A toothbrush.
- Q: Fill me with warm water and bubbles and you can splash in me. What am I? A: A bath.
- Q: I glow gently so the dark is not scary. What am I? A: A night-light.
- Q: I stay on top of you and keep you warm all night. What am I? A: A blanket.
- Q: You hug me but I do not hug back, and I am often fluffy. What am I? A: A teddy bear.
Make it your own: Younger children can fetch each answer from the bedroom. Older children can invent a bedtime riddle for a sibling, or try one about a toy they love.
Make it work for your family
Ask which clue helped rather than whether the answer was right. This teaches children to think about how they solved it, and it makes wrong answers useful: ‘You said a spoon, and that fits the long handle. Which clue says it is also round?’ If a child is stuck, offer one extra clue or a choice of two pictures, rather than giving the answer too soon.
Once children know the pattern, the best riddles are the ones they make up. Start with ‘I have…’ and add one clue at a time, from the least obvious to the most. For more clue-based games try guessing games for kids, or build vocabulary with picture vocabulary games and the Weebou word games.
Parents also ask
What age are riddles suitable for?
Many children enjoy simple riddles from about four, when they can hold a few clues in mind and connect them to a familiar object. Younger children can join in with pictures to point at, and older children can create their own riddles.
How do I help my child if they cannot guess a riddle?
Offer one more clue, show two or three pictures to choose from, or ask which clue they found helpful. Avoid giving the answer straight away; a guess that is close, followed by a new clue, helps a child feel they are getting there.
How can riddles help with learning?
They practise listening, remembering several clues and putting information together. They also build vocabulary, because clues use describing words. They are a speaking and thinking game, not a measure of intelligence, and children who prefer pictures can still take part.
Choose materials and activities that suit your child, supervise as needed and adapt the ideas to their interests and abilities. About our editorial approach
