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10 Free Dilemmas for Kids

There is no right answer. Pick a side, say why, then switch sides. Ten free questions from the book No Right Answer (ages 8-12).

The book: No Right Answer (100 dilemmas) →

How to use

  1. Read the scene out loud.
  2. Everyone picks an answer and says why.
  3. Read the twist. Did anyone change their mind?
  4. Switch sides: argue for the answer you did not pick.

There is no right answer. The fun is in the "why".

1. Friends · medium · Honesty

The Drawing

Scene
Your best friend drew a picture for the school art contest. She asks, "Do you like it?" Honestly, you don't think it's very good.
Choose
Tell the truth, or say you love it?
Why?
How would your friend feel after each answer?
Twist
What if the contest is tomorrow, and there is still time to fix it?
Switch Sides!
Now pretend you picked the other answer. Why might it be a good choice?

Grown-up Tip Whatever they pick, ask "Why?" two times. The second answer is usually the real one.

2. Friends · light · Kindness

Two Parties

Scene
Two friends are having birthday parties on the same Saturday at the same time. You can only go to one.
Choose
Go to your oldest friend's party, or your newest friend's party?
Why?
Which friend would feel sadder?
Twist
One party has 3 kids. The other has 20. Does that change your answer?
Switch Sides!
Be on the other team. What's your best reason?

Grown-up Tip Share a time you had to pick between two people. Kids open up when you go first.

3. Family & Home · light · Fairness

The Last Cookie

Scene
There is one cookie left. Your little brother didn't see it. You are the only one who knows.
Choose
Eat it, or share it?
Why?
Does it matter that no one would ever know?
Twist
What if your brother ate the last cookie yesterday without sharing?
Switch Sides!
Now pretend you picked the other answer. Why might it be a good choice?

Grown-up Tip If a fight starts, that's fine. Ask each person to say the other side's reason first.

4. Family & Home · medium · Kindness

Grandma's Sweater

Scene
Grandma made you a sweater. It is itchy, and the colors are not your style. She asks you to wear it to her house on Sunday.
Choose
Wear it, or tell her kindly that you don't like it?
Why?
What does Grandma care about most?
Twist
What if she says she wants to make you three more?
Switch Sides!
Be on the other team. What's your best reason?

Grown-up Tip Ask, "Is there a third choice?" Kids often find one.

5. School · medium · Fairness

The Group Project

Scene
Your group gets an A on a project. But one kid did almost nothing, and the teacher thinks everyone did the same amount of work.
Choose
Tell the teacher, or say nothing?
Why?
Is it fair to the kids who worked hard?
Twist
What if that kid was having a hard time at home that week?
Switch Sides!
Argue for the other answer. Can you change someone's mind?

Grown-up Tip Ask, "What would you want your group to do if that kid were you?"

6. Money & Stuff · deep · Honesty

The Extra Change

Scene
You buy a snack at a store. The person at the register gives you $5 too much. You notice it when you are already outside.
Choose
Go back and return it, or keep it?
Why?
Who loses the $5 if you keep it?
Twist
What if it's a giant store that makes millions of dollars? What if it's a small shop run by one old man?
Switch Sides!
Be on the other team. What's your best reason?

Grown-up Tip Let the grown-ups disagree too. Kids learn a lot from hearing adults think out loud.

7. Animals & Nature · medium · Kindness

The Lost Puppy

Scene
You find a cute puppy with no collar near your house. You have always wanted a dog.
Choose
Keep it, or try to find its family?
Why?
How would the puppy's family feel?
Twist
What if you put up signs and call the animal shelter, and no one comes for two weeks?
Switch Sides!
Now pretend you picked the other answer. Why might it be a good choice?

Grown-up Tip A good moment to agree on a family rule: tell a grown-up before touching an animal you don't know.

8. Screens & Games · light · Me

The Spoiler

Scene
You finished the new movie everyone is waiting to see. Your friend begs, "Just tell me how it ends!"
Choose
Tell, or keep it a secret?
Why?
Will your friend be glad later?
Twist
What if your friend can't see the movie for a whole year?
Switch Sides!
Argue for the other answer. Can you change someone's mind?

Grown-up Tip Ask, "Is it okay to say no to a friend who asks nicely?"

9. School · deep · Courage

The Mean Joke

Scene
At recess, a kid makes a mean joke about someone in your class. Everyone around you laughs.
Choose
Say something, or stay quiet?
Why?
How does it feel to be the only one who speaks up?
Twist
What if the kid in the joke was mean to you last year?
Switch Sides!
Now pretend you picked the other answer. Why might it be a good choice?

Grown-up Tip Staying quiet isn't the only other choice. Ask, "What else could you do later?"

10. Imagination · light · Me

The Magic Button

Scene
You find a magic button. If you press it, you get one free hour every day that no one else has. But you have to spend that hour alone.
Choose
Press it, or not?
Why?
What would you do with the hour?
Twist
What if you could bring one person into your hour? Who, and why?
Switch Sides!
Be on the other team. What's your best reason?

Grown-up Tip Answer it yourself too. Kids love hearing what you'd do.

Want all 100?

No Right Answer has 100 dilemmas in 7 chapters: Friends, Family & Home, School, Money & Stuff, Animals & Nature, Screens & Games and Imagination.

See the book on Amazon →

FAQ

What age is this for?

Kids ages 8 to 12. Younger kids can play with a grown-up reading the scene.

Is there a right answer?

No. Every question has good reasons on both sides. The goal is to think, explain and listen.

Are these free to use?

Yes. These ten are free to read and use at home or in class. The other 90 are in the book.

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