Your next adventure could be a moment together.
Now that you have met Pigúiça here, discover the story behind her world. See the illustrations, read the beginning and choose a book to share with your child, one page at a time.
Looking for riddles about objects for kids? Here are 20, all with answers, about things your child sees at home every day: a toothbrush, an umbrella, a mirror, a clock, a key and more. You can play in the car, in the checkout line or at bedtime, with no supplies at all.
The riddles come in two levels. The first is for ages 4 and 5, with clear, visible clues. The second is for ages 6 to 8, for kids who like to think a little longer before they guess.
How to play object riddles
The simplest way: you read the riddle, your child guesses, and you check the answer together. If they get it wrong, that is fine! Wrong guesses are half the fun. Offer a second clue instead of giving the answer right away.
One trick that works well: read each riddle while looking around a room. In the bathroom, the toothbrush and soap riddles come alive. In the kitchen, it is the spoon and the fridge's turn.
Easy riddles (ages 4 and 5)
At this level the clues describe shape, job and sound. Read slowly and let your child think out loud.
- I have bristles but I am not a beast. I scrub your teeth so your smile looks its best. What am I? A toothbrush
- I have hands but I cannot clap. I keep on moving but never leave the map. What am I? A clock
- When it rains, I open wide and keep you dry. When the sun comes out, I fold up and say goodbye. What am I? An umbrella
- I am very honest: if you smile, I smile too. If you make a silly face, I make one back at you. What am I? A mirror
- I have lots of teeth but I never bite. I smooth out your hair so it looks just right. What am I? A comb
- I am soft and fluffy and I live on your bed. You rest on me when it is time to lay down your head. What am I? A pillow
- I carry your books and your snack on my back, and I never complain about the weight in my pack. What am I? A backpack
- I have four legs but I never go for a walk. You sit on me at dinner while you eat and talk. What am I? A chair
- I am round and deep, and I carry your soup to your mouth, slowly and steadily, north, east or south. What am I? A spoon
- I go ding-dong when someone comes to call, and the whole house runs to the door, one and all. What am I? A doorbell
Trickier riddles (ages 6 to 8)
Now the clues are better hidden. Some are opposites, some describe objects that change over time, and some make you think twice. If your child gets stuck, ask them to close their eyes and picture where they usually see the object.
- I live on a key ring, I have little teeth, and I open the door without a single push. What am I? A key
- I have two blades that hug each other, and I cut paper without making a sound. What am I? Scissors
- The more I work, the smaller I get, and I leave a trail everywhere I go. What am I? A pencil
- The more I glow, the shorter I grow, and every year I sit on top of a birthday cake. What am I? A candle
- I am slippery, I smell nice, and I get a little smaller with every bath. What am I? A bar of soap
- I carry a light that does not belong to the ceiling, and I go with you into the dark so nobody has to feel scared. What am I? A flashlight
- I dry you all over, but I am the one who ends up wet. What am I? A towel
- I have two lenses, I live on your nose, and I help you see what is far away or close. What am I? Glasses
- I am white on the outside and cold on the inside, and I keep the milk and juice safe and cool. What am I? A fridge
- We are a pair and we live on your feet, but one of us always vanishes in the laundry. What are we? Socks
Tips to make the game last
Swap roles. After a few riddles, let your child make one up for you. Picking an object, thinking of two clues and hiding the name is a wonderful language workout.
Start with three short clues: what it is for, where you find it and what it is made of. With those three, even little ones can build surprising riddles.
If more than one child is playing, take turns. Whoever guesses right picks the next object. That way nobody is left out and everyone practices listening.
Want more games?
To keep the fun going, check out our riddles for kids with answers, with more themes and levels. And when your child wants a break from words, Pigúiça's free game runs right in the browser, with no sign-up and no ads.
Pigúiça, the blue-eyed husky puppy from the book Dogavios, would love to know you are playing riddles. Fofuxo, in the Magic Garden, bets the next answer is «key».
Frequently asked questions
At what age do kids start to understand riddles?
Around age 4, many children enjoy simple riddles that describe an object by what it does. Between 6 and 8, they start to like more abstract clues and wordplay.
What if my child cannot guess?
Give an extra clue, such as the room where the object lives, or say the first letter. The goal is to play and think together, not to pass a test.
How many riddles should we do at once?
Three to five is usually plenty for little ones. If they ask for more, keep going. If their attention drifts, stop and come back later.
Your next adventure could be a moment together.
Now that you have met Pigúiça here, discover the story behind her world. See the illustrations, read the beginning and choose a book to share with your child, one page at a time.
Your next adventure could be a moment together.
Now that you have met Pigúiça here, discover the story behind her world. See the illustrations, read the beginning and choose a book to share with your child, one page at a time.
