50 Questions to Prompt Bedtime Discussion with Your Children

Bedtime is a pretty sacred time in our house. Though it usually comes way too late for my girls, I still try to make time to talk to them about their day. For whatever reason, they are usually more willing to discuss what’s going on in their world after the lights are off and they are snuggled in their bed. Maybe it’s a gimmick to stay up a little longer? Perhaps. But I’ll gladly allow it in order to really hear what’s going on in their hearts and minds. And it’s a great time to speak love and the truth of God’s word into their hearts. As they discuss events of the day, I weave scripture or examples from the Bible into my responses. We have all learned so much about how relevant and infallible God’s word is.

Nothing makes my heart melt more than to tuck my big girl into bed at night and have her say, “Mom, stay with me so we can talk a little while.” She doesn’t always have a topic she wants to discuss or a situation she wants to talk through. It’s usually the time and attention she is seeking. It’s the connection to me and to Jesus that her heart is hungry for. And since I receive so much more from these quiet times than my children do, I’m always happy to oblige.

This precious time doesn’t come without a little direction in what we discuss. My girls can definitely get caught up telling me every detail of a TV show they’ve watched or repeating line by line a scene from a movie. Unless there is hope for a teachable moment there, I usually redirect the discussion to something that has more spiritual value. I’m always on the lookout for new topics for bedtime discussion or prompting questions that will lead us to talk about the goodness of God in a new way.

Here are a few bedtime discussion starters for us to use as we tuck these precious gifts from God into bed each night. Some are serious, some are funny, some are creative, but they are all designed to help you dig deeper into your child’s mind. I hope they will lead you to many discussions with your children about their thoughts, their hearts, their feelings, and their walk with God.

1. What happened today that you are grateful for?
2. What did you do to help someone today?
3. Who helped you today?
4. What makes you feel angry?
5. What do you like to do with your cousins?
6. Whom do you need to forgive before you go to sleep?
7. What is the best thing about your friend ____________? (Choose a specific friend or family member.)
8. If you could change anything about Mommy, what would it be? (And don’t be defensive when they answer. Discuss it lovingly!)
9. What do you like best about yourself?
10. Who is your favorite person in the Bible and why?
11. Who is one person at church that you learn a lot from?
12. What is your idea of a fun afternoon?
13. What are three good things about a rainy day?
14. If you could be a super hero for a day, which super power would you choose?
15. What would it be like to live in a place where everyone was the same?
16. How do you feel when you do a good job on something?
17. What is something you do that takes courage?
18. Why do we go to church?
19. What makes you feel giggly?
20. What is one kind thing someone said to you today?
21. What is the funniest thing that happened today?
22. Is everything okay in your heart?
23. What is your favorite (insert color) thing that God created?
24. What would it be like if God created the world without color?
25. Who is someone you look up to? Why?
26. What is something you are really good at?
27. How would you describe your family to someone who has never met us?
28. What do you like to do with your grandparents?
29. Which three friends are you most thankful for?
30. If you could change anything about our house, what would it be?
31. What is your favorite and least favorite chore?
32. Name three places you would like to travel to someday.
33. What makes a person successful? Are you successful?
34. Tell me five people who will always love you.
35. Is there anything that happened today that you’d do differently if you could?
36. What are some ways you are like your siblings? In what ways are you different?
37. Who needs your encouragement tomorrow?
38. What do you think people in (name another country) are doing right now?
39. What would you like to dream about tonight?
40. What is it like to be an adult? What do you think your life will be like when you are an adult?
41. If you could be a character in any book (or movie or TV show), which one would it be?
42. What is one thing you wish you could do well?
43. Who is one person you’d like to be better friends with?
44. Have you ever lost anything hat you looked really hard to find?
45. If you could learn to speak a new language, which would it be and why?
46. What are the best things about Daddy?
47. If you could heal anyone, who would it be and why?
48. What is one miracle you would ask God for?
49. Which neighbors do you think need our prayers and/or help? How can we minister to them?
50. How can I pray for your day tomorrow?

I pray that these discussion prompts will lead to many wonderful talks with your children. I pray that they lead your children to be grateful, brave, kind, and full of joy.

Do you have ideas for other questions we can ask our children? Click on the “leave a comment” tab at the top of this post so that the Hill Hangout community can be inspired by what you have to say.