Getting kids talking, thinking, and sharing their views is one of the simplest ways to build confidence and critical thinking skills, and that is exactly what these free printable debate cards are designed to do. Our debate topics for kids printable includes 16 pages of debate topic cards, with ideas suitable for elementary students, primary school ages, older kids, and teens.
The topics range from fun debate topics and funny debate topics for kids to more thoughtful social and world-based discussions, making them easy to use at home, in classrooms, or as part of lesson plans in schools. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschooler, these cards make debating feel fun rather than intimidating while helping kids learn how to express a view, listen to others, and think more deeply about the world around them.
Benefits of Debating for Kids
Debating is about much more than winning an argument. When kids take part in debates, they practice critical thinking, learn how to organize their ideas, and build confidence speaking in front of other people. Even simple debate topics for primary school children help students understand that it is okay to have different opinions and that listening is just as important as talking.
Debates also support social and emotional learning by encouraging respect, turn-taking, and empathy. For school students, debate activities fit naturally into learning time and can support literacy, speaking and listening skills, and broader lesson goals across many grades.
Choosing a Debate Topic for Kids
The key to a successful debate is choosing a topic that is appropriate for the age and experience of the students. Younger kids do best with fun debate topics for kids that are concrete and familiar, such as food, school rules, or everyday choices.
As kids get older, debate topics for grade 4 and 5 or debate topics for KS3 can introduce more abstract ideas, such as fairness, technology, or social issues.
Teens are often ready for debate topics for teens that touch on social media, climate change, or school policies. Keeping topics age appropriate helps kids stay engaged and confident, and makes debating an enjoyable learning experience rather than a stressful one, and interesting debate topics that get them excited are the way to make this activity a lot more fun.
How to use these debate cards
These printable debate topic cards are very flexible. You can use them one-on-one, in small groups, or with a whole class.
Let kids pick a card at random, or choose a topic that fits your current lesson or discussion theme. Encourage students to explain their view, give a reason for their opinion, and listen carefully to what others say.
For younger kids, debates can be very informal and short. Older students may enjoy taking turns, timing responses, or preparing a few notes before they speak. These cards also work well as warm-up activities, writing prompts, or discussion starters during school time or at home.
Printable Debate Topics for Kids
Our printable debate topics for kids pack includes 16 pages in total, with four debate cards on each page and plenty of interesting topics for debate.
The topics gradually increase in complexity, starting with easy topics for debate and moving onto more complex debates for kids, making them suitable for younger children, elementary students, and older kids. Below is a breakdown of all of the debate topics for children included on each page.
Page 1 – School rules and routines (older kids / pre-teens)
- Grades should be abolished in schools
- All students should wear school uniforms
- Teenagers should have a curfew
- Homework should be banned
These debate topics work well for upper elementary students and pre-teens. They encourage kids to think critically about school rules, expectations, and fairness.
Page 2 – Home life and responsibility (younger kids)
- Kids should be allowed to choose their own bedtime
- Pets should be allowed in school
- Every child should have a pet
- Kids should help cook dinner
These are simple debate topics for primary school children and are great for getting younger kids talking about family rules, routines, and responsibility.
Page 3 – Fun opinions and everyday choices (younger kids)
- Recess should be longer than lessons
- Cartoons are better than movies
- Everyone should learn how to ride a bike
- School days should be shorter
This page focuses on fun debate topics that kids have strong opinions about, making it ideal for early elementary students and classroom discussions.
Page 4 – Rewards, rules, and learning (elementary students)
- Kids should be allowed to wear pajamas to school
- Kids should get paid for chores
- Video games can be good for learning
- School uniforms are a good idea
These debate topics for kids encourage discussion around motivation, learning, and school expectations, and work well for grades 2–5.
Page 5 – Skills, screen time, and decision-making (elementary students)
- All kids should learn a musical instrument
- Screen time limits are helpful
- Sports are more important than art
- Kids should help decide family rules
This set supports critical thinking and helps students consider balance, priorities, and having a voice at home.
Page 6 – Learning and social topics (older elementary / pre-teens)
- School should teach life skills like cooking and budgeting
- Social media does more harm than good
- Grades don’t show how smart someone really is
- Schools should start later in the day
These debate topics are ideal for older elementary students and early teens, introducing bigger social and education-based discussions.
Page 7 – School policies and community (pre-teens)
- Phones should be banned during school hours
- Everyone should volunteer in their community
- Online learning is better than in-person learning
- Students should have a say in school rules
This page works well for classroom debate and lesson plans, helping students think about school systems and their role within them.
Page 8 – Independence and society (teens)
- Kids should have more independence as they get older
- The voting age should be lowered
- Teenagers should have part-time jobs
- Social media companies should be more regulated
These debate topics for teens encourage discussion around responsibility, independence, and wider social issues.
Page 9 – Big ideas and imagination (mixed ages)
- Technology has changed friendships for the worse
- Dinosaurs could still exist somewhere
- Aliens are real
- Dreams have secret meanings
This page includes some funny debate topics and imaginative discussion starters that are great for mixed-age groups and fun debate sessions.
Page 10 – Values and everyday choices (younger to middle ages)
- Some places are haunted
- Robots could become our friends
- Reading is better than watching TV
- Sharing always makes things better
These debate topics for kids are ideal for encouraging thoughtful discussion around values, technology, and everyday habits.
Page 11 – Friendship, fairness, and imagination (younger kids)
- Friends can be different and still get along
- Everyone should get a second chance
- Imagination is more important than toys
- Cats are better pets than dogs
This page of debate questions for kids is ideal for younger kids and early elementary students. The topics focus on friendships, kindness, and simple preferences, making them great for gentle debates and social learning.
Page 12 – Learning styles and big ideas (elementary students)
- Tests are not the best way to show learning
- Group work is better than working alone
- Time travel could be real
- The future will be very different from today
These debate topics help elementary students think about learning styles while also enjoying some imaginative and future-focused discussions.
Page 13 – Technology and fairness (older elementary / pre-teens)
- Technology makes life better
- Group projects are unfair
- Artificial intelligence will replace many jobs
- Young people are judged unfairly by adults
This page introduces more complex ideas around technology, school fairness, and how young people are treated, making it well suited to older elementary students and pre-teens.
Page 14 – Motivation, success, and responsibility (pre-teens / teens)
- Money motivates people more than passion
- Success is defined differently for everyone
- Competition is good for society
- Freedom should come with more responsibility
These debate topics encourage deeper thinking about values, motivation, and responsibility, and work well for classroom discussions with older students.
Page 15 – Ethics and society (teens)
- People should always tell the truth
- Cancel culture does more harm than good
- Fame is overrated
- Money can’t buy happiness
This set is designed for teens and supports thoughtful debates around ethics, social issues, and modern culture. These are good debate topics for kids as they grow up.
Page 16 – Rules, progress, and values (teens)
- Rules should change as society changes
- Intent matters more than outcome
- Progress sometimes requires breaking rules
- Individual freedom is more important than tradition
These are higher-level debate topics for teens, ideal for encouraging critical thinking, reasoning, and respectful discussion around complex ideas.
If kids are enjoying these debate cards, the options really are endless. Encourage them to come up with their own funny debate topics, fun debate topics, or serious debate topics based on their interests, current lessons, or things happening in the world. Making up a new debate topic is a great learning activity on its own.
Download printable debate topics for kids PDF
You can download the full printable debate topics for kids PDF and start using the cards right away. The set is designed to be easy to print and use, whether you are planning lessons for school, adding debate activities to worksheets, or encouraging discussion at home.
Terms of use: Our debates topics for kids printable cards are free for personal use and classroom use.
Debating helps kids develop confidence, communication skills, and critical thinking in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. With age-appropriate debate topics and a supportive environment, kids learn that their opinions matter and that listening to others is an important part of learning.
These debate topic cards make it easy to introduce debating in a fun, structured way for kids of all ages. You can also make your own list of debate topics to continue the activity in a way that’s personal to the children, focusing on the issues that mean the most to them personally. There are so many debating topics for kids and these are just the start!
More Printables For Kids
If you enjoyed these debate cards and fun debate topics for kids, we have plenty more printables for kids covering all sorts of things from games to coloring to classroom worksheets and more
- 500 Good Clean Truth or Dare Questions for Kids
- 150+ Funny and Epic Dare Ideas for Kids (with Free Printable Cards)
- K-Pop Demon Hunters Coloring Pages
- New Years Pictionary Game Printable
- Free Printable Animals Charades Cards for Kids
- Free Printable Animal Movement Activities for Children
If you found this list of topics for kids to debate helpful, please share this blog post with other parents and teachers. It really helps others discover new learning ideas and supports our site too.
2 thoughts on “Debate Topics for Kids – Free Printable Debate Cards for All Ages”