Debate topics for kids

Classroom discussions are a powerful tool for challenging and inspiring young minds. Discussions and debates expose younger students to new perspectives to prepare them as 21st-century learners.

Best of all, younger students can contribute instantly and simultaneously with single-sentence claims in Kialo Edu‘s innovative written discussion format — a great way to visually practice their argumentation and critical thinking skills, all for free! Get your elementary-aged students participating in engaging class discussions today with these debate topics for kids.

Fun debate topics for kids

These fun debate topics are engaging and accessible for younger students, serving as icebreakers or as a contrast to more serious topics. Students can practice examining and defending their positions in a low-pressure format, building their critical thinking and communication skills.

• Does pineapple belong on pizza?
• Do movie studios make too many reboots and sequels?
• If you were stranded on a desert island, what one item would you bring?
• Is a beach vacation better than a vacation in the mountains?
• Is a hot dog a sandwich?
• Is a rainy day better than a sunny day?
• Is breakfast important?
• Is chocolate better than sweets?
• Is fruit a dessert?
• Is ice cream better than cake?
• Is it better to be too hot than too cold?
• Is it better to build a sand castle or a snowman?
• Is it more fun to play on a swing or a seesaw?
• Is peanut butter better than chocolate spread?
• Should all families have a pet?
• Should everyone learn to play a musical instrument?
• Should kids be allowed to eat ketchup?
• Should kids have to earn their pocket money?
• Should swimming lessons be compulsory for all children?
• Should you kill spiders when you find them indoors?
• Should you save your pocket money?
• What is the best activity to do after school?
• Which are better: cats or dogs?
• Which is better: LEGO® or Minecraft?
• Which is the worst day of the week?
• Which superpower would be best to have?
• Would it be better to travel forward or backward in time?
• Would it be good to be famous?

Geography debate topics for kids

Harness younger students’ natural curiosity for the world around them with these geography debate topics for kids. Ideal for humanities lessons, these discussions encourage students to reflect on regional and global issues, broaden their perspectives, and expand their worldview.

• Are desert animals tougher than animals from the rainforest?
• Are green belts a good idea?
• Is it better to live in a big city or a small town?
• Is it better to live in the city or the countryside?
• Is it better to travel by plane or boat?
• Is it okay to cut down trees?
• Should all homes have solar panels?
• Should dogs be allowed in public parks?
• Should e-scooters be allowed in city centers?
• Should everyone have to recycle?
• Should fossil fuels be banned?
• Should private cars be banned from city centers?
• Should public transport be free?
• Should richer countries give money to poorer countries?
• Should we only eat food produced in our own countries?
• Should we wash our clothes less often?
• What is the best method of transport in a city?
• Which country would be most interesting to visit?
• Which is the best landmark in the world?
• Would a camel be happier living in a desert or a jungle?

History debate topics for kids

These history debate topics can add meaning to history lessons, transforming students into history detectives as they seek evidence to support their claims. Plus, you can use Kialo’s Small Group Mode for students to contribute claims and evidence to discussions in breakout groups without duplicating their peers’ contributions.

• Ancient Athens or Sparta: Which was the better place to live?
• Did King Arthur really exist?
• Do the Vikings deserve their bad reputation?
• How did the Roman Empire become so great?
• Should history lessons focus on the history of your own country?
• Should we admire Alexander the Great?
• Was “Bad King John” really that bad?
• Was the Bronze Age more impressive than the Iron Age?
• Was the Industrial Revolution good for society?
• Was the Roman invasion good for Britain?
• Were the “Dark Ages” really so dark?
• Where would you rather live in 900 CE: London or Baghdad?
• Which Bronze Age civilization was more advanced: the Indus valley or Egypt?
• Which invention was more important: fire or the wheel?
• Which pre-Columbian civilization was more impressive: the Aztecs, Incas, or Maya?
• Which Tudor monarch was most successful?
• Which would be better to visit: ancient Egypt or ancient Greece?
• Would it have been more fun to build a pyramid in Egypt or the Great Wall in China?

Literature debate topics for kids

Use children’s literature as a safe space for younger students to explore challenging ethical and moral issues through discussion and debate. Students can engage in in-depth character or plot analysis using textual evidence, while you can guide their contributions with targeted, personalized feedback.

• Are fairy tales good for children?
• In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was Willy Wonka good at heart?
• In Charlotte’s Web, is Templeton more of a hero or a villain?
• In Goodnight Mister Tom, was Tom Oakley right to bring William back to Little Weirwold?
• In Jack and the Beanstalk, was Jack right to steal from the giant?
• In Matilda, which of her parents is the worst?
• In Pig Heart Boy, is Cam right to accept the pig heart transplant?
• In “Puss in Boots,” is Puss a good guy?
• In The Cat in the Hat, should the children have listened to their parents or had fun with the Cat in the Hat?
• In the Harry Potter series, should Hogwarts be open to Muggle-born students?
• In The Railway Children, was Mother right in keeping Father’s circumstances secret?
• In Trash, were Raphael, Gardo, and Rat right to tell lies?
• In the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, is Greg Heffley a likable character?
• Is fiction better than non-fiction?
• Is Goldilocks a villain?
• Is listening to books better than reading them?
• Is Robin Hood a thief?
• What would be the best subject to study at Hogwarts?
• Which child is the bravest in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?
• Who is better: Goldilocks or little Red Riding Hood?

School and education debate topics for kids

Discussions on school and education debate topics allow younger students to make connections to their everyday experiences. Giving students a voice on topics that matter to them can boost their motivation and engagement in lessons to foster a sense of ownership over their education.

• Are field trips beneficial?
• Are there too many school holidays?
• Is reading more important than math?
• Should all classes be grouped by ability rather than age?
• Should all school lunches be healthy?
• Should schools provide free meals for all students?
• Should everyone get a day off for their birthday?
• Should more lessons take place outdoors?
• Should recess be longer?
• Should schools be open to students during holidays and breaks?
• Should school start later in the day?
• Should schools take students on trips abroad?
• Should students be allowed to bring their pets to school?
• Should students be held back to repeat a grade in school?
• Should students grade their teachers?
• Should students have to raise their hands before speaking in class?
• Should students have to wear school uniforms?
• Should teachers be allowed days off during the school term?
• Should teachers give homework?
• Should teachers have to wear a uniform?
• What is the best age to start school?
• What is the most important quality for a teacher to have?
• What subject should be added to the school curriculum?
• Which is better: working on your own or working in a group?
• Would you rather learn a musical instrument or a foreign language?

Science and technology debate topics for kids

The fields of science and technology are constantly evolving, offering exciting future opportunities for younger students. In these discussions, students can critically reflect on the impacts of science and technology on society.

• Could technology ever replace teachers?
• Do aliens exist?
• Do smartphones make us less smart?
• Have mobile phones improved people’s lives?
• Is AI actually smart?
• Is it more important to exercise or to eat healthily?
• Is it okay for parents to share photos of their kids on social media?
• Is playing video games good for learning?
• Is space tourism a good idea?
• Is the internet an overall good thing for kids?
• Is water better when it’s a solid, a liquid, or a gas?
• Should adults play video games?
• Should everyone be vegetarian?
• Should kids be able to have social media?
• Should mobile phones and tablets be allowed at family meal times?
• Should parents be friends with their kids on social media?
• Should plastic bags be banned?
• Should the government limit the time kids can spend playing video games?
• Should unhealthy food cost more?
• Should we ban zoos?
• Should you be allowed to use smartphones in school?
• Should young people under 16 be allowed to have smartphones?
• What is the best way to get to sleep?
• Which are more important: plants or animals?
• Which dinosaur was the best?
• Will robots rule the world?
• Would a dinosaur make a good pet?
• Would it be good to be an astronaut?
• Would you rather be able to fly like a bird or swim like a fish?
• Would you rather have skin made of fur or scales?

Social-emotional debate topics for kids

These social-emotional debate topics for kids can help build younger students’ emotional intelligence. As students reflect on these topics in safe and supportive classroom environments, they can develop essential relationship skills like compromise and conflict resolution, improvement of their emotional well-being, and contributions to a positive classroom ethos.

• Are friends better than family?
• Do children need privacy?
• Does having more things make us happier?
• Do people need friends to be happy?
• Is cyberbullying worse than face-to-face bullying?
• Is it ever okay to break the rules?
• Is it ever okay to lie?
• Is it good to have siblings?
• Is it good to keep your feelings to yourself?
• Is it okay to ignore someone who’s mean?
• Is popularity important?
• Should 10-year-olds be allowed part time jobs?
• Should all children have to do volunteer work?
• Should bullies be expelled?
• Should kids have to earn their pocket money?
• Should parents be held responsible for their children’s actions?
• Should stores separate toys by gender?
• Should we always forgive others?
• Should we always let someone else go first?
• Should we always respect people in authority?
• Should we always take turns?
• Should we only be friends with people who are the same as us?
• Should we share our toys?
• What are the best ways of dealing with worries?
• What is the best way to make new friends?
• What is the best way to solve a problem?

Sports debate topics for kids

Critical thinking is essential for athletes to make effective tactical decisions on the pitch. You can start training those skills early with these sports debate topics for kids, giving younger students opportunities to analyze situations and make informed decisions.

• Are penalty shootouts a good way to decide the winner?
• Are team mascots a good idea?
• Is it better to be the fastest player or the strongest player?
• Is it better to have fun or win the game?
• Should anyone under 18 years old be banned from competing in the Olympics?
• Should anyone under 18 years old be banned from competing in the Paralympics?
• Should contact sports be banned in schools?
• Should everyone get participation awards?
• Should parents be banned from kid’s sports matches?
• Should professional athletes be banned from participating in the Olympics?
• Should school sports day be banned?
• Should the Olympics include more extreme sports?
• Should video replays be used in sports?
• Which is the best sport to play with your friends?
• Would you rather play on a team with your best friend or with the best player?

Spark critical thinking, curiosity, and communication skills in your younger students with these engaging debate topics for kids. We’ve got a treasure trove of discussions to get you started in our Topic Library — each one ready with a thesis and starter claims — or you can create your own discussion. Try out Kialo Edu today to use a free, purposeful tool for better discussions!

We’re always looking for new ideas, so we’d love to hear your suggestions for great debate topics for kids! Send them to us at feedback@kialo-edu.com or on social media.