Riddles for 2nd Graders
These 2nd grade riddles are written for kids who are seven or eight and love to shout the answer first. Expect easy riddles for kids, a few picture puzzles and friendly hints on the tricky ones. Teachers, they make a great morning warm-up.
Browse all the puzzles on this page ▾
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1. I have a head and a tail, but no arms or legs. What am I? Easy
Need a hint?
You might find me under the couch cushions.
Show answer
A coin.
A coin has a heads side and a tails side, which are its head and tail.
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2. I have four legs but I never run, and you eat your dinner on top of me. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A table.
A table has four legs and you eat dinner on top of it, but it stays still.
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3. I come in a box with all my colorful friends, and I get shorter every time you draw with me. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A crayon.
Crayons come in a box of colors and wear down shorter as you color.
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4. Which of these can you catch but never throw? Medium
You catch a cold when you get sick, but you can't throw one at anybody.
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5. I am yellow, monkeys love me, and you have to take my coat off before you eat me. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A banana.
A banana is yellow, monkeys love it, and its peel is the coat you remove.
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6. I float in the sky and look like cotton, but I am really made of tiny water drops. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A cloud.
Clouds look like fluffy cotton but are really made of tiny water droplets.
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7. I copy everything you do, I follow you on sunny days, but I disappear in the dark. What am I? Easy
Need a hint?
Look at the ground on a sunny day.
Show answer
Your shadow.
Your shadow copies you in sunlight and vanishes when there is no light.
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8. 🌞 + 🌸 Easy
Need a hint?
A tall yellow flower that turns toward the light.
Show answer
A sunflower (sun + flower).
Sun plus flower squishes together to make the word sunflower.
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9. I am full of holes, but I can still hold lots of water. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A sponge.
A sponge is full of holes yet those holes soak up and hold water.
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10. I have lots of teeth, but I never ever bite. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A comb.
A comb has many teeth for hair, but teeth here do not bite.
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11. It gives us milk and says moo. But careful: what do cows DRINK? Medium
Show answer
Water
Cows give milk but they drink water, so the milk answer is the trap.
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12. I am full of stories and pictures, but I cannot talk. You turn my pages to hear me. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A book.
A book holds stories and pictures, and you turn its pages to read it.
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13. I get bigger and bigger when you blow into me, but one sharp poke and POP, I am gone. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A balloon.
A balloon grows as you blow air in and pops with one sharp poke.
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14. Count the balloons at the birthday party. How many do you see? Easy
Show answer
Five. Four float up high and one bobs a little lower. Count the strings if the balloons trick you.
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15. I have a carrot nose and button eyes, but when the sun gets warm, I start to cry. What am I? Easy
Need a hint?
You build me in winter.
Show answer
A snowman.
A snowman has a carrot nose and buttons, and melts and drips in warm sun.
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16. What goes up but never, ever comes back down? Medium
Your age only goes up. Everything else comes back down sooner or later.
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17. Which letter of the alphabet is a tiny green vegetable? Medium
Need a hint?
This vegetable comes in a pod.
Show answer
The letter P. It sounds just like a pea.
The letter P sounds exactly like pea, the little green vegetable in a pod.
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18. Which letter of the alphabet is a buzzing insect? Easy
Show answer
The letter B. It sounds just like a bee.
The letter B sounds exactly like bee, the buzzing insect.
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19. I used to be water, but now I am hard and cold, and I make your juice frosty. What am I? Easy
Show answer
Ice.
Ice is frozen water, hard and cold, and it chills your juice.
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20. 🌧️ + 🎀 Easy
Need a hint?
Look up after a storm when the sun peeks out.
Show answer
A rainbow (rain + bow).
Rain plus bow squishes together to make the word rainbow.
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21. I glow in the night sky and I seem to follow your car, but nobody can ever catch me. What am I? Medium
Show answer
The moon.
The moon seems to follow your moving car and glows, but you can never reach it.
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22. I can take you up and I can take you down, but I never move an inch. What am I? Medium
Need a hint?
You climb me one step at a time.
Show answer
Stairs.
Stairs take you up and down while staying perfectly still themselves.
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23. I am like a little house for your hand, and I keep your fingers warm in winter. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A glove.
A glove is like a little house that keeps each finger warm.
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24. I am full of keys, but I cannot open any door. What am I? Medium
A piano has 88 keys, and not one of them opens a door.
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25. You rest your head on me every night, and sometimes kids swing me at their friends. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A pillow.
A pillow is what you rest your head on and kids sometimes swing in play.
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26. We always come in pairs, but one of us loves to hide in the laundry. What are we? Easy
Show answer
Socks.
Socks come in pairs and one often goes missing in the wash.
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27. I am big and yellow, I wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night, and I keep the whole Earth warm. What am I? Easy
Show answer
The sun
The sun is big and yellow, rises and sets, and warms the whole Earth.
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28. I jump very high and carry my baby in a pocket on my tummy. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A kangaroo.
A kangaroo jumps high and carries its baby in a belly pouch.
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29. I look like a pony that never took off its striped pajamas. What am I? Easy
Need a hint?
I live in Africa and my stripes are black and white.
Show answer
A zebra.
A zebra looks like a horse wearing black and white striped pajamas.
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30. One of these shapes is not like the others. Which one? Easy
Show answer
The triangle. Three shapes are circles. The third one has corners, so it does not belong.
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31. I am a bird, but I ask the same question all night long: WHO? What am I? Easy
Show answer
An owl.
An owl is a bird whose hooting sounds like it keeps asking who.
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32. I have ears all over me, but I cannot hear a single sound. What am I? Medium
Need a hint?
You might eat me at a barbecue.
Show answer
Corn.
An ear of corn has many ears, but corn ears cannot hear sounds.
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33. There are 4 apples on the table. You take away 3. How many apples do YOU have? Medium
You took 3 apples, so you have 3. The tricky word is YOU.
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34. I have one eye, but I cannot see at all. I help people sew. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A needle.
A needle has one hole called an eye and helps you sew, but cannot see.
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35. I dance with the dust all across the floor, but I am not alive. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A broom.
A broom sweeps dust across the floor as if dancing, though it is not alive.
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36. 🐄 + 👦 Easy
Need a hint?
He wears a big hat and rides a horse.
Show answer
A cowboy (cow + boy).
Cow plus boy squishes together to make the word cowboy.
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37. Thirty-two white horses stand on a red hill. They chomp and they stomp but they never run away. What are they? Medium
Need a hint?
The red hill is inside your mouth.
Show answer
Your teeth.
The white horses stand for teeth and the red hill is your gums, chomping food.
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38. Press my button and I sing one note, then somebody runs to open the door. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A doorbell.
A doorbell rings one note when pressed, so someone comes to open the door.
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39. Some months have 30 days and some have 31. How many months have 28 days? Hard
Show answer
All of them
Every one of the twelve months has at least 28 days, so all of them do.
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40. Every morning and every night I dance around inside your mouth with a minty friend. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A toothbrush.
A toothbrush moves around your mouth twice a day with minty toothpaste.
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41. I pop open when the sky starts to cry, and I keep the top of your head nice and dry. What am I? Easy
Show answer
An umbrella.
An umbrella opens in the rain and keeps your head dry.
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42. I have two hands and a round face, but no arms at all, and I stay in one place. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A clock.
A clock has two hands and a round face but no arms, and stays put.
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43. The longer I burn, the shorter I get, and I give you a little flame of light. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A candle.
A candle shrinks as it burns and gives off a small flame of light.
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44. I have a hard white shell, and a baby chick sleeps inside me until I crack. What am I? Easy
Show answer
An egg.
An egg has a hard white shell and a chick grows inside until it cracks.
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45. I fall from the clouds but I am not snow, I make puddles and help the gardens grow. What am I? Easy
Show answer
Rain.
Rain falls from clouds, makes puddles, and helps gardens grow.
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46. I show you towns and roads and seas, but I fold up small as small can be. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A map.
A map shows towns, roads, and seas, and it folds up very small.
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47. I live in the water and breathe with my gills, and I have no feet so I never walk. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A fish.
A fish lives in water, breathes with gills, and has no feet to walk.
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48. I purr when you pet me, I chase little mice, and I always land on my feet. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A cat.
A cat purrs when petted, chases mice, and lands on its feet.
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49. You cannot see me at all, but you can feel me blow. I make the leaves dance and the kites fly high. What am I? Easy
Show answer
The wind.
Wind is invisible but you feel it blow, moving leaves and lifting kites.
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50. I have a knob but no hands, and I let you into a room when you open me up. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A door.
A door has a knob but no hands and opens to let you into a room.
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51. I am straight and flat with many little marks, and I help you draw a line that is not crooked. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A ruler.
A ruler is straight and flat with marks and helps draw straight lines.
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52. I float on the water and carry people across, I have no wheels but I still go. What am I? Easy
Show answer
A boat.
A boat floats on water and carries people across without any wheels.
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53. I have a wooden coat and a dark heart inside, and an eraser hat sits on my head. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A pencil.
A pencil has a wooden body around a graphite center and often an eraser on top.
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54. I ride at the end of a pencil, and I make your mistakes disappear. What am I? Medium
Show answer
An eraser.
An eraser sits on the pencil end and rubs away mistakes.
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55. I have two sharp blades that open and close, and I snip paper into pieces. What am I? Medium
Show answer
Scissors.
Scissors have two blades that open and close to cut paper.
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56. I have eight legs, and I spin a sticky web to catch my dinner. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A spider.
A spider has eight legs and spins a web to trap its food.
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57. I carry my hard house on my back everywhere I go, and I move very slowly. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A turtle.
A turtle carries its shell like a house and moves slowly.
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58. I am the biggest animal on land, with big flappy ears and a long trunk. What am I? Medium
Show answer
An elephant.
An elephant is the largest land animal, with big ears and a long trunk.
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59. I twinkle high in the night sky, and children like to wish upon me. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A star.
A star twinkles in the night sky and people wish upon it.
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60. I grow underground in many layers, and I make people cry when they slice me. What am I? Medium
Show answer
An onion.
An onion grows in layers and makes eyes water when cut.
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61. I show you your own face, and I copy every move you make. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A mirror.
A mirror reflects your face and copies your movements.
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62. I have two wheels and two pedals, and I only go when your feet push me. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A bicycle.
A bicycle has two wheels and moves when you pedal with your feet.
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63. I am thin and hollow, and you use me to sip your drink. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A straw.
A straw is a hollow tube you sip your drink through.
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64. I start as a tiny hard kernel, but with heat I go POP and turn white and fluffy. What am I? Medium
Show answer
Popcorn.
Popcorn starts as a hard kernel and pops into a fluffy white snack when heated.
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65. I carry a little spiral shell and leave a shiny trail as I crawl. What am I? Medium
Show answer
A snail.
A snail carries a spiral shell and leaves a shiny slime trail.
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66. Which letter of the alphabet is a warm drink that grown-ups like to sip? Hard
Show answer
The letter T. It sounds just like tea.
The letter T sounds exactly like tea, the warm drink.
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67. Which letter of the alphabet is a huge body of salty water? Hard
Show answer
The letter C. It sounds just like sea.
The letter C sounds exactly like sea, the great body of water.
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68. Which letter of the alphabet is also a part of your face that can see? Hard
Show answer
The letter I. It sounds just like eye.
The letter I sounds exactly like eye, the part of your face that sees.
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69. It belongs to you, but your friends use it far more than you do. What is it? Hard
Show answer
Your name.
Your name is yours, yet other people say it much more than you do.
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70. What kind of room has no doors, no windows, and grows in the forest? Hard
Show answer
A mushroom.
A mushroom sounds like a room but is really a plant that grows in the forest.
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71. I have a neck but no head, and I hold your water or juice. What am I? Hard
Show answer
A bottle.
A bottle has a narrow neck at the top but no head, and it holds drinks.
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72. What building holds the most stories but never gets tired of them? Hard
Show answer
A library.
A library is full of stories in its books, and stories can also mean floors.
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73. I have lots of keys but I open no locks, and you tap me to type. What am I? Hard
Show answer
A keyboard.
A keyboard has many keys for typing, but none of them open a lock.
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74. What kind of coat can you only put on when it is wet? Hard
Show answer
A coat of paint.
A coat of paint goes on wet and dries onto the wall.
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75. What has one head, one foot, and four legs, and you sleep on it? Hard
Show answer
A bed.
A bed has a headboard, a footboard, and four legs, and you sleep on it.
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76. What can travel all around the world while staying stuck in one corner? Hard
Show answer
A stamp.
A stamp stays in the corner of an envelope while the letter travels the world.
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77. I am full of words but I never make a sound, and you mail me for a birthday. What am I? Hard
Show answer
A card.
A birthday card is full of written words but never speaks out loud.
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78. What kind of tree can you hold in the palm of your hand? Hard
Show answer
A palm tree.
A palm tree has palm in its name, just like the palm of your hand.
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79. What kind of band can stretch but never plays a song? Hard
Show answer
A rubber band.
A rubber band stretches around things but makes no music like a real band.
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80. What kind of dog never barks, never bites, and sits in a bun? Hard
Show answer
A hot dog.
A hot dog is food in a bun, not a real dog that barks or bites.
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81. What has bark but never bites, and squirrels climb up it? Hard
Show answer
A tree.
A tree has bark on its trunk, but tree bark cannot bite.
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82. I have two hands to tell the time, but I cannot clap, and I fit on your wrist. What am I? Hard
Show answer
A watch.
A watch has hands that point to the time but cannot clap together.
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83. What runs all the way around the yard but never takes a single step? Hard
Show answer
A fence.
A fence runs around a yard as a border, but it does not move at all.
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84. What has lots of teeth in a row but never eats a thing, and it closes your jacket? Hard
Show answer
A zipper.
A zipper has metal teeth that lock together but cannot eat.
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85. What kind of ship has two good mates but no captain and never sails the sea? Hard
Show answer
Friendship.
Friendship ends in ship and means two friends who are mates, not a real boat.
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86. What can fill a whole room but takes up no space at all? Hard
Show answer
Light.
Light fills a room when you flip the switch but takes up no space.
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87. I have a tongue but I cannot taste, and you wear me on your foot. What am I? Hard
Show answer
A shoe.
A shoe has a flap called a tongue, but it cannot taste anything.
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88. What kind of house can you build and then eat for dessert? Hard
Show answer
A gingerbread house.
A gingerbread house is made of cookie and candy so you can eat it.
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89. What kind of nut is soft, sweet, and has a hole right in the middle? Hard
Show answer
A doughnut.
A doughnut ends in nut but is a sweet treat with a hole in the center.
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90. What has many eyes but cannot see, and you can plant it in the ground? Hard
Show answer
A potato.
A potato has little buds called eyes, but they cannot see.
Easy riddles for kids age 7 and 8
Coins, tables, crayons and bananas. Familiar things described sideways, so second graders can reason their way to the answer instead of just knowing it.
Picture puzzles and emoji riddles
Count the balloons at the party, spot the odd shape out and decode a few emoji pairs. A nice change of pace between the word riddles.
Tricky riddles with answers
What do cows drink, how many months have 28 days, and other gentle traps. Perfect for teaching kids to slow down before they answer.
Your score
FAQ about Riddles for 2nd Graders
Are these riddles right for a 7 or 8 year old?
Yes, the whole set is written for second grade reading levels. Most riddles use everyday objects and animals, and friendly hints appear on the harder ones.
Can teachers use these riddles in class?
Absolutely. They work as morning warm-ups, brain breaks or early-finisher challenges. Put one on the board and let the class vote before you reveal the answer.
Do all the riddles come with answers?
Every card reveals its answer on tap. A few are multiple choice or type-in, which kids love because they get instant feedback.
When your second grader is ready for a little more of a challenge, roll right into our riddles for 3rd graders for the next step up in tricky fun. And when they want to switch things up, let them stretch their thinking with our hands-on brain teasers for kids.