Questions · Deep questions for kids

Deep questions for kids, sized for kids

Thoughtful questions for kids around eight and up: how they handle feelings, what being fair and kind looks like to them, how they’re growing, and what they hope for. For a quiet moment, never as a test.

  • 17 questions
  • EN + TL on every card
  • Free in the app
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Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.

Reflect№ 44

Pick one feeling you have today. What would you say to a friend who felt that too?

Pumili ng isang feeling mo today. Ano ang sasabihin mo sa friend na ganun din ang nararamdaman?

Tap to flipkumustahan
A note

Sometimes your gentlest wisdom shows up first for someone else. It may be allowed to come back to you too.

Minsan mas mabilis lumabas ang lambing natin para sa iba. Baka puwede ring bumalik sa'yo yung same na wisdom.

Tap to returnkumustahan

The questions

17 deep questions for kids

Every question in English and Filipino/Tagalog, word for word from the Kumustahan decks. Open “Back of the card” for the reflection printed on the other side.

Feelings

4 questions

How they talk to themselves, and what they’d tell a friend.

  1. Pick one feeling you have today. What would you say to a friend who felt that too?

    Pumili ng isang feeling mo today. Ano ang sasabihin mo sa friend na ganun din ang nararamdaman?

    Back of the card

    Sometimes your gentlest wisdom shows up first for someone else. It may be allowed to come back to you too.

    Minsan mas mabilis lumabas ang lambing natin para sa iba. Baka puwede ring bumalik sa'yo yung same na wisdom.

  2. How do you talk to yourself when you fall short?

    Paano ka makipag-usap sa sarili mo kapag nagkukulang ka?

    Back of the card

    The voice you use with yourself matters. It can either add weight or make room for a wiser next step.

    Mahalaga yung boses na gamit mo sa sarili mo. Puwede siyang magdagdag ng bigat o magbigay ng space para sa mas wise na next step.

  3. Pick one small kindness you can give yourself today.

    Pumili ng isang maliit na kindness na kaya mong ibigay sa sarili mo today.

    Back of the card

    Kindness does not need to be grand to be real. A small mercy can still change how the day feels.

    Hindi kailangang bongga ang kindness para maging totoo. Kahit maliit na mercy, puwedeng baguhin ang feel ng araw.

  4. Where do you need to be less harsh with yourself?

    Saan mo kailangang bawasan ang pagiging harsh sa sarili mo?

    Back of the card

    Being less harsh does not mean caring less. It can mean choosing a voice that helps you keep moving honestly.

    Hindi ibig sabihin na wala kang pakialam kapag hindi ka harsh. Baka mas helpful lang ang boses na hindi ka dinudurog.

Fair, kind and fixing things

5 questions

Their sense of right and wrong, in their own words.

  1. Tell us about a time someone was fair to you in a way you still remember.

    Ikuwento yung time na naging fair sa'yo ang isang tao, at natatandaan mo pa rin.

    Back of the card

    Fairness can be memorable because it gives people room to breathe. It says, I see the whole situation, not only the mistake.

    Natatandaan ang fairness kasi nakakahinga ang tao. Parang sinasabi nito, nakikita ko yung buong situation, hindi lang yung mali.

  2. What makes an apology from a friend feel sincere to you?

    Paano mo nalalaman na talagang sorry ang friend sa nangyari?

    Back of the card

    Would it still feel sincere if they used different words?

    Ramdam mo pa rin bang talagang sorry sila kung iba ang sinabi nila?

  3. Who is someone you respect for the way they live, even in small things?

    Sino yung taong nirerespeto mo sa paraan ng buhay niya, kahit sa maliliit na bagay?

    Back of the card

    Respect often begins with small, steady things. A simple habit can show a lot about how someone moves through life.

    Madalas nagsisimula ang respeto sa maliliit pero consistent na bagay. May simpleng habit na maraming sinasabi tungkol sa isang tao.

  4. What could you say to a quiet friend after a misunderstanding?

    Ano ang puwede mong sabihin sa tahimik na friend matapos kayong hindi magkaintindihan?

    Back of the card

    You can leave them room to answer later.

    Puwede mo silang bigyan ng oras bago sumagot.

  5. What habit makes a small disagreement with a friend worse?

    Anong habit ang nagpapalala sa simpleng hindi pagkakasundo ninyo ng friend?

    Back of the card

    Talk about the habit, not which friend does it.

    Habit ang pag-usapan, hindi kung sinong friend ang gumagawa nito.

Growing up

6 questions

What’s easier now, and what they’re proud of handling.

  1. What is something you can handle better now than before?

    Ano yung mas kaya mo nang i-handle ngayon kaysa dati?

    Back of the card

    Growth is often noticed in comparison. What used to shake you may now take less from you.

    Madalas napapansin ang growth kapag may comparison. Yung dati kang kinakabahan, baka ngayon mas kaya mo nang harapin.

  2. Tell us about something you used to avoid that feels less scary now.

    Kuwento mo yung dati mong iniiwasan pero hindi na ganun ka-scary ngayon.

    Back of the card

    Less scary is still movement. You do not have to be fearless to know something has changed.

    Movement pa rin ang less scary. Hindi mo kailangang maging fearless para malaman na may nagbago.

  3. Share the first time you did something on your own and felt more capable afterward.

    Ikuwento ang unang beses mong gumawa ng isang bagay mag-isa at naisip mong, "Kaya ko pala."

    Back of the card

    Finish if you like: "That was when I realized I could..."

    Kung gusto mo, ituloy: "Doon ko naisip na kaya ko palang..."

  4. What difficult situation are you proud of handling?

    Anong mahirap na sitwasyon ang proud kang naharap mo?

    Back of the card

    You can pass or keep the situation private. What did handling it help you notice about your own abilities?

    Puwedeng mag-pass o itago ang sitwasyon. Ano ang napansin mong kaya mo pala matapos mong harapin iyon?

  5. Which ability did a friend notice in you before you noticed it yourself?

    Anong galing mo ang unang napansin ng friend bago mo ito nakita sa sarili mo?

    Back of the card

    You could borrow their words to describe your ability once.

    Puwede mong gamitin ang sinabi nila para ilarawan ang galing mo.

  6. What do you like more about yourself than you used to?

    Ano ang mas nagugustuhan mo sa sarili mo kaysa dati?

    Back of the card

    Would you appreciate the same thing in another person? Your story can stay private.

    Magugustuhan mo rin ba iyon sa ibang tao? Puwedeng itago ang sarili mong kuwento.

Hopes

2 questions

Small wishes, said out loud.

  1. Name one good thing you are quietly hoping for.

    Magsabi ng isang good thing na tahimik mong hinihiling lately.

    Back of the card

    Quiet hopes still deserve room. Saying them gently can remind you that wanting good things is not foolish.

    May lugar din ang tahimik na hopes. Kapag nasabi mo sila nang gentle, naaalala mong hindi foolish ang umasa sa mabuti.

  2. Name one small wish you have for yourself this year.

    Ano yung isang maliit na wish mo para sa sarili mo this year?

    Back of the card

    Small wishes can still be honest. They may be easier to say out loud because they do not demand a perfect life.

    Maliit man yung wish, honest pa rin. Minsan mas madaling sabihin kasi hindi niya hinihingi na perfect ang buhay.

How to use them

Before you ask

Kids think about big things all the time: fairness, friendship, who they’re turning into. Deep questions for kids don’t need to be heavy; they need to be specific. “What would you say to a friend who felt like you do today?” is a deep question a nine-year-old can answer, and the answer will surprise you.

The mistake is asking deep questions as a lesson in disguise. If every answer gets a moral at the end, kids learn to give the answer you want. Ask, listen, say “that makes sense,” and let it sit. The value is that they put their thinking into words.

Pick a calm moment with one kid at a time: a walk, a drive, the edge of the bed. These work for most kids from about eight; for younger ones, the bedtime questions are gentler.

Good for

  • One-on-one time with a parent
  • Walks and drives
  • Bedtime for older kids
  • Counselors and teachers in small groups
  • After a hard day or a friend fight

Tips

  1. One deep question per conversation is plenty.
  2. Don’t correct their answer. Ask “what makes you think that?” instead.
  3. Share a time you got it wrong at their age.
  4. Ask with one kid at a time; siblings make deep answers performative.
  5. If they say “I don’t know,” offer two possible answers to choose from.

Decks for this

Deep questions for kids

Frequently asked questions

What are some deep questions to ask kids?

Ask how they talk to themselves when they mess up, about a time someone was fair to them, what they can handle better now than before, and one small wish for this year. Specific questions get thoughtful answers.

What age can kids answer deep questions?

Most kids can answer simple deep questions from about eight. Younger kids do better with concrete questions about today and gentle bedtime ones.

How do I ask deep questions without making it a lecture?

Ask, then only listen and reflect back what you heard. Save advice for when they ask for it, and answer the question yourself too.

Bring a better question to the table.

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