What If?

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	Advanced
	Age: 4-7
	20-30 min
	Through “What If?” questions, children become more aware of cause and effect. They strengthen creative and critical thinking, develop adaptive strategies for challenges, and experience the value of collaboration.
	Flexibility Collaboration Communication Critical thinking
	Cognitive task Conversation
	Scissors Colored paper Printer Thermal laminator Variation: colored magazines and pictures from real-life situations

Preparation

Print the “What If?” question-cards. You can use the available space to let children illustrate the “What-if” sentences. Laminate for durability.

Implementation

Gather the children in a circle and introduce a new game. Show them the “What If?” cards and explain that each card holds a situation to think and talk about.

Spread the cards face down in the center of the circle. Use a counter to decide which child will go first.

The chosen child picks a card and the teacher reads the question aloud (or the child reads it themselves if they can). The child then explains what they think would be the best thing to do in that situation.

The teacher supports reflection by asking guiding questions such as:

What would you need in that situation?
How could you help yourself?
Who could you ask for help?

Afterward, other children share their own ideas and opinions about the situation. When everyone has finished discussing, the current child chooses who will draw the next card. Continue until all children have had a turn or interest fades naturally.

Reflection

After the game, talk about the experience:

What did you like most about this game?
Which questions were your favorites, and why?
Which ones were difficult? What made them difficult?
Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you handle it?

This conversation helps children connect imagination and reasoning with real-life situations and emotions.

Variations and Additional Ideas

Change the story:

Take a familiar story or event and imagine a “What if...?” twist (e.g.: What if Little Red Riding Hood got lost in the city?).

Create your own cards:

Children make their own What If? cards using pictures from magazines or drawings. They can invent situations, illustrate them, and share them with the group.

Role play:

Act out selected What If? situations in pairs or small groups. Encourage children to explore different solutions and emotions through play.

“What If?” Questions - Happy and Funny

1. What if someone tells you that you are great?

2. What if you could be any animal? Which one would you choose?

3. What if your pet could talk? What would it say?

4. What if you could have any superpower? Which one would you pick?

5. What if you were the size of an insect?

6. What if dinosaurs were walking on the Earth again?

7. What if you could fly like a bird?

8. What if you had three eyes?

9. What if you had eyes on your back?

10. What if you had a tail? What would you do with it?

“What If?” Questions - Challenging Situations

1. What if someone is playing with the toy you want?

2. What if someone takes your toy?

3. What if you break someone else’s toy?

4. What if you don’t feel well?

5. What if your best friend doesn’t want to play with you?

6. What if you get injured on the playground?

7. What if someone teases or insults you?

8. What if no one wants to play with you?

9. What if you have to stay in a group with children you don’t know?

10. What if a new teacher joins your group?

11. What if you find yourself in a foreign country among children who speak a different language?