25 Hard Riddles for Smart Kids (With Answers)
Not all riddles are easy—and that’s the fun part. When kids are ready for a challenge, hard riddles help them stretch their brains, think creatively, and build problem-solving skills that go beyond the classroom.
These 25 riddles are designed for kids who love to think. They’re clever, tricky, and sometimes just plain weird—but always fun. Great for ages 8–13, advanced learners, or puzzle-loving families.
Hard But Fun Riddles for Kids 😃
I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?
The more you take away from me, the bigger I get. What am I?
I’m always in front of you but can’t be seen. What am I?
What has cities, but no houses; forests, but no trees; and rivers, but no water?
What has one eye but can’t see?
I have keys but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but can’t go outside. What am I?
The more of me you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
I am tall when I’m young, and short when I’m old. What am I?
What has a head, a tail, but no body?
I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for long. What am I?
What begins with an E, ends with an E, but only contains one letter?
Forward I’m heavy, but backward I’m not. What am I?
You can catch me, but you can’t throw me. What am I?
What gets bigger the more you take away from it?
What disappears the moment you say its name?
What is full of holes but still holds water?
What can you hold in your left hand but not in your right?
I’m not alive, but I can grow. I don’t have lungs, but I need air. What am I?
What goes up but never comes down?
What invention lets you look right through a wall?
I have branches but no trunk, leaves, or fruit. What am I?
What has to be broken before you can use it?
I’m found in socks, scarves, and mittens; and often in the paws of playful kittens. What am I?
What can fill a room but takes up no space?
How to Use These Riddles
These riddles are great for:
- Classroom challenges
- Family road trips
- Rainy day puzzles
- Brain-boosting activities for gifted learners
You can even turn them into a game: keep score, give prizes, or do a riddle-a-day challenge.
Ready to Test Your Brain?
- Play fun and tricky riddles
- Challenge yourself daily with fresh brain teasers
- Perfect for all ages — kids, teens, and adults