Debate with 4-6 year olds is not really debate in the traditional sense. It is structured disagreement as play. These 75 motions present simple choices that every young child feels strongly about: 'Chocolate is better than vanilla,' 'Cats are cuter than dogs,' 'Summer is the best season.' The child's job is to say why they think so, and the team format means they are not doing it alone.
At this age, any sustained English output is valuable. A 5-year-old who says 'Chocolate is better because it is yummy and brown is my favourite colour' has produced a compound sentence with reasoning, which is remarkable at A2. The debate format generates this output naturally because children want to win.
Structured disagreement as play
The format should be as simple as possible: two teams, each gets 15 seconds to say why their side is better, then the teacher (or the other team) votes. Move to a new motion immediately. Do 4-5 motions in 5-7 minutes. The speed keeps young children engaged.
The simplest debate format
The teacher may need to model the first round by being on a team and saying 'I think summer is the best because we can go swimming and eat ice cream!' Children will imitate the structure. After one model round, most 4-6 year olds can produce their own versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
In a very simplified, playful way, yes. Think of it as 'saying why you like your thing better' in teams. Keep it to 15 seconds per team and treat it as a fun game, not a structured activity.
Yes, for children with A2-level English (typically bilingual or English-medium nursery). The motions are about simple preferences that every young child has opinions about: favourite foods, animals, colours, and seasons.
Accept any response enthusiastically. 'Because I like it!' is a valid A2 reason for a 4-year-old. Over time, with modelling, children will start adding more specific reasons. The goal is participation, not sophistication.