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Two Sides Debate Prep

Child argues both sides of a fun question in turn, building perspective-taking and reasoning.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home doing Two Sides Debate Prep.
  • Age7 to 12 years
  • Time5 to 15 minutes
  • EnergyCalm
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors
  • PrepNone

Your child takes a light, fun question and argues first one side, then the other, coming up with reasons for each. A talking game about seeing more than one point of view.

How to do it

  1. Pick a fun, low-stakes question together, such as whether cats or dogs make better pets, or whether school should start later.
  2. Have your child list two or three reasons for the first side out loud while you listen.
  3. Now ask them to switch and argue the opposite side with two or three fresh reasons.
  4. Take a turn yourself on whichever side they found harder, to model that both sides can be argued.
  5. Finish by asking which side they actually think is stronger and why, making clear there is no single right answer.

What you need

  • Paper and pen

Make it yours

Younger (6 to 8 years): Pick very concrete questions and accept one reason per side. Older (10 to 12 years): Add a rule that each side must answer the other side's best reason, and try questions with more grey area. Siblings: Two children take opposite sides, then swap and argue again

Try this with your child.

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