100 Riddles for Kids with Answers

Do your kids love a good brain teaser? You’re in the right place! We’ve put together the ultimate collection of riddles for kids right here on Days Out With The Kids – and there are over 100 of them! Whether you’re after easy riddles perfect for little ones, tricky hard riddles to challenge older children and teens, or hilarious funny riddles that’ll get the whole family in stitches, we’ve got something for everyone.

We’ve organised everything into handy categories so you can find exactly what you need in seconds. Read them aloud on a rainy afternoon, use them as a fun activity at the dinner table tonight, or save them for the car journey – riddles are brilliant entertainment wherever you are!

Why riddles? They’re brilliant for developing critical thinking, boosting vocabulary, and encouraging kids to think outside the box. Plus, they’re completely free entertainment!
Here’s what’s inside:

• Easy riddles for kids (perfect for ages 4-7)
• Hard riddles for older children and teens
• Funny riddles that’ll get everyone laughing
• Animal riddles with answers
• Food riddles for kids
• English and word riddles
• Brain teasers and tricky riddles

These simple riddles for kids are ideal for younger children aged 4-7. The clues are straightforward and the answers are satisfying, making them perfect for building confidence and getting little minds ticking!

1. I am tall when I am young and short when I am old. What am I? A candle.
2. What has a head and a tail, but no body? A coin.
3. What has four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening? A human (crawling as a baby, walking as an adult, using a cane in old age).
4. What has a heart that doesn’t beat? An artichoke.
5. I am light as a feather, but not even the strongest person can hold me for more than a minute. What am I? Breath.
6. What is easy to get into but hard to get out of? Trouble.
7. What goes up but never comes back down? Your age.
8. I have hands but I cannot clap. What am I? A clock.
9. What has lots of eyes but cannot see? A potato.
10. I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I? A joke.
11. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.
12. What has one eye but cannot see? A needle.
13. What gets wetter the more it dries? A towel.
14. What can you catch but not throw? A cold.
15. What is always in front of you but can never be seen? The future.

Do your kids love a good brain teaser? You’re in the right place! We’ve put together the ultimate collection of riddles for kids right here on Days Out With The Kids – and there are over 100 of them! Whether you’re after easy riddles perfect for little ones, tricky hard riddles to challenge older children and teens, or hilarious funny riddles that’ll get the whole family in stitches, we’ve got something for everyone.

We’ve organised everything into handy categories so you can find exactly what you need in seconds. Read them aloud on a rainy afternoon, use them as a fun activity at the dinner table tonight, or save them for the car journey – riddles are brilliant entertainment wherever you are!

Ready to step it up a gear? These harder riddles for kids are great for older children aged 8 and above, teenagers, and adults who want a proper brain workout! Don’t peek at the answers too quickly…

1. I am not alive, but I can die. I don’t have a mouth, but water can drown me. What am I? A flame.
2. I can fly, but I am not a bird. I can swim, but I am not a fish. I can run, but I am not a rabbit. What am I? A kite.
3. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? Footsteps.
4. I have cities but no houses. I have mountains but no trees. I have water but no fish. I have roads but no cars. What am I? A map.
5. What can travel around the world while staying in a corner? A stamp.
6. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I? An echo.
7. What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it? Silence.
8. I have branches but no fruit, trunk, or leaves. What am I? A bank.
9. I follow your every move and copy you, but you can never catch me. What am I? Your shadow.
10. What is taken from a mine, shut up in a wooden case, and used by almost everyone? A pencil lead.
11. The person who makes it, sells it. The person who buys it, never uses it. The person who uses it, never knows they’re using it. What is it? A coffin.
12. I have a head, a tail, but no body. I am not a coin. What am I? A tadpole.
13. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years? The letter M.
14. A man looks at a painting and says, “Brothers and sisters I have none, but that man’s father is my father’s son.” Who is in the painting? His son.
15. What can you hold in your right hand but never in your left hand? Your left hand.

These hilarious riddles for kids are guaranteed to get everyone in stitches! Perfect for family road trips, dinner table fun, or just a good old giggle on a rainy afternoon. Who can keep a straight face?

1. Why did Snap, Crackle, and Pop get scared? They heard there was a cereal killer on the loose.
2. What do you call a bear without ears? B.
3. Why is Europe like a frying pan? Because it has Greece at the bottom.
4. Why can’t a pirate ever finish the alphabet? Because he always gets lost at sea!
5. If two snakes marry, what will their towels say? Hiss and hers.
6. What did the smelly feet say to the smelly shoes before a long walk? This socks!
7. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.
8. What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho cheese!
9. Why can’t Elsa have a balloon? Because she’ll let it go!
10. What do you call a sleeping dinosaur? A dino-snore!
11. What do you call a fish without eyes? A fsh.
12. Why did the maths book look so sad? Because it had too many problems.
13. What do elves learn in school? The elf-abet.
14. Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired.
15. What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frostbite.

Top tip for parents: Read these out with a dramatic pause before the punchline for maximum effect! Kids absolutely love the build-up.

Animal-mad kids will love this section! These animal riddles for kids are great for sparking conversations about wildlife and nature. How many can your little ones guess?

1. I have a long tail and a bushy coat. I live in the forest and eat nuts and berries. What am I? A squirrel.
2. I swim in the water and have a long snout. I eat fish and other small creatures. What am I? A crocodile.
3. I have a long neck and legs, and I eat leaves from tall trees. What am I? A giraffe.
4. I am a mammal that can fly. I have large ears and come out at night. What am I? A bat.
5. I have thick fur and love to swim. I am known for catching fish. What am I? An otter.
6. I am a mammal that lives in the ocean. I have a blowhole and flippers. What am I? A dolphin.
7. I have webbed feet and a beak. I swim in the water and eat fish. What am I? A duck.
8. I have sharp claws and hunt at night. I can turn my head almost all the way round. What am I? An owl.
9. I am the largest land animal on Earth. I have a long trunk and big ears. What am I? An elephant.
10. I am black and white and love to slide on ice. I live in Antarctica. What am I? A penguin.
11. I have eight legs and spin webs to catch my dinner. What am I? A spider.
12. I am a big cat with orange fur and black stripes. What am I? A tiger.
13. I live in a shell and carry my home on my back. What am I? A snail.
14. I am the fastest land animal in the world. I have spots and live in Africa. What am I? A cheetah.
15. I am a small, furry animal that loves to run on a wheel. What am I? A hamster.

Peckish for a puzzle? These food riddles for kids are a brilliant way to get little ones thinking about what they eat! Great for the kitchen, lunchtime, or even a cooking-themed party game.

1. I am round and red, and I am often used in salads. Some people think I’m a vegetable, but I’m actually a fruit. What am I? A tomato.
2. I am a yellow fruit with a tough skin, often used to make juice. What am I? A lemon.
3. I am white and creamy, often spread on bread or used in cooking. What am I? Butter.
4. I am a sweet treat, often given as a gift or eaten as a dessert. I come in milk, dark, and white varieties. What am I? Chocolate.
5. I am a vegetable that is green and leafy, often used in salads and sandwiches. What am I? Lettuce.
6. I am a small round vegetable that is often pickled and served as a side dish. What am I? A gherkin.
7. I am a savoury and spicy ingredient, often added to soups and stews. What am I? Pepper.
8. What room doesn’t have any windows? A mushroom.
9. I am a sweet and sticky treat, often served on a stick or in a cone. I come in dozens of flavours. What am I? Ice cream.
10. I am round with a hole in the middle. I can be glazed, iced, or filled with jam. What am I? A doughnut.
11. I am orange on the outside and grow underground. Rabbits love me! What am I? A carrot.
12. I am the king of fruits and I wear a crown. I am yellow and prickly on the outside. What am I? A pineapple.
13. I am made from milk and can be hard or soft. Mice are said to love me. What am I? Cheese.
14. I am long, yellow, and monkeys go bananas for me. What am I? A banana.
15. I am red on the outside and white on the inside. I grow on a vine and am often eaten in summer. What am I? A strawberry.

These word riddles are brilliant for boosting literacy skills and getting kids to think cleverly about language. Great for KS1 and KS2 children!

1. What is in seasons, seconds, centuries and minutes, but not in decades, years or days? The letter N.
2. What word begins and ends with an E but only has one letter? Envelope.
3. What word of five letters has one left when two are removed? Stone.
4. What word starts with T, ends in T, and is full of T? A teapot.
5. What word is pronounced the same if you take away four of its five letters? Queue.
6. What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? Short.
7. You’ll find me in Mercury, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter, but not in Venus or Neptune. What am I? The letter R.
8. Which letter of the alphabet has the most water? The letter C (sea).
9. What is at the end of a rainbow? The letter W.
10. I have keys but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but can’t go inside. What am I? A keyboard.
11. What starts with P, ends with E, and has thousands of letters? A post office.
12. I am a word of six letters. Take away one letter and twelve remains. What am I? Dozens.
13. There’s only one word in the dictionary that’s spelt wrong. What is it? Wrong.
14. What has words but never speaks? A book.
15. What goes up and down but never moves? A staircase.

These classic brain teasers and tricky riddles will have the whole family scratching their heads! Perfect for family quiz nights, car journeys, or a fun challenge at the dinner table.

1. A man is pushing his car along a road when he comes to a hotel. He shouts, “I’m bankrupt!” Why? He was playing Monopoly.
2. A man walks into a bar and orders a drink. He then asks the bartender for a menu, but the bartender tells him they don’t serve food. Why did the man ask for a menu? The man was blind and asked for a menu to read the Braille.
3. What is full of holes but still holds water? A sponge.
4. A man was outside in the rain without an umbrella or hat, but didn’t get a single hair wet. Why? He was bald.
5. What is made of water, but if you put it into water it dies? An ice cube.
6. What goes up and down the stairs without moving? Carpet.
7. A man was driving a black truck. His lights were on. The moon was not out. A lady was crossing the street. How did he see her? It was a bright and sunny day.
8. Which one of Santa’s reindeer is the fastest? Dasher.
9. I shrink smaller every time I take a bath. What am I? Soap.
10. What is black when it’s clean, but white when it’s dirty? A chalkboard.
11. What invention lets you see right through a wall? A window.
12. I have a neck but no head, and I wear a cap. What am I? A bottle.
13. What is always hungry and must always be fed? Touch it and it will die. What is it? A fire.
14. A cowboy rides into town on Friday, stays three days, and leaves on Friday. How? His horse is called Friday.
15. What has 13 hearts but no other organs? A deck of playing cards.

Challenge time! How many did your family get right? Share your score in the comments below and tell us which riddle stumped you the most!

Looking for even more ways to keep everyone entertained? Our family quiz questions with answers are another fantastic option for getting everyone round the table!

You might think riddles for kids are just a bit of fun – and they absolutely are! – but they’re also secretly brilliant for child development. Here’s why we love them so much…

They Build Critical Thinking Skills

Riddles encourage children to think laterally and look beyond the obvious answer. When a child works through a riddle, they’re practising logic, reasoning, and problem-solving without even realising it!

They Boost Vocabulary and Literacy

Word riddles in particular are fantastic for expanding vocabulary and getting children to think carefully about language, spelling, and meaning. They’re a brilliant supplement to KS1 and KS2 literacy learning.

They’re Perfect for Screen-Free Time

Whether it’s a rainy day at home, a long car journey, or a quiet evening in, riddles are a wonderful way to entertain the whole family without a screen in sight! Our 60 general knowledge questions with answers are another great screen-free option to keep in your back pocket.

They Encourage Conversation

Riddles naturally spark discussion. Kids love explaining their thinking, debating answers, and hearing why they were right or wrong. It’s brilliant for family bonding!

The best age to start riddles: Most children can enjoy simple riddles from around age 4, but the complexity can grow with them. Our easy riddles are perfect for ages 4-7, while the hard riddles and brain teasers are great for ages 8 and up.

Of course, riddles are just the start! When you’re ready to take the fun beyond the living room, Days Out With The Kids is the UK’s most trusted destination for finding brilliant family days out – from theme parks and zoos to indoor adventures and seasonal events. Browse thousands of attractions and find your next family adventure!

Loved these fun riddles for kids? We’ve got loads more brilliant ideas to keep the little ones entertained! Whether you’re stuck indoors or just looking for something different to do, we’ve got you covered.

• Half-Term Rainy Day Ideas – Our favourite activities for when the weather won’t cooperate!
• Kids Quiz Questions – Perfect for a family quiz night at home.
• 60 General Knowledge Questions With Answers – Test your family’s knowledge across all sorts of topics!
• Family Quiz Questions With Answers – Great for all ages around the table.
• Best Board Games for Kids – Our top picks for unplugged family fun.
• Car Games to Occupy the Kids – Brilliant for long journeys!

And when you’re ready to head out for an adventure, don’t forget to browse our amazing family days out across the UK for inspiration. From theme parks and zoos to museums and outdoor adventures, there’s always something brilliant to discover!

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Did you enjoy our riddles for kids? We’d love to hear from you! Share your favourite riddle in the comments below, or let us know if there’s a brilliant one we’ve missed. Which category did your kids find the trickiest? Drop us a comment!