140 Questions to Ask Your Inner Child

When was the last time you thought about your younger self—the kid who loved to explore, dream big, or maybe just get lost in their imagination? That version of you, your inner child, still exists somewhere inside. They’ve got a lot to say about your joys, your fears, and maybe even a few things you’ve tried to forget.

Talking to your inner child is about moving forward, just as it is about looking back. It’s a chance to heal old wounds, rediscover what makes you happy, and maybe laugh at how much you’ve changed (or haven’t).

Let’s start asking the right questions to connect with that part of you again.

Healing Emotional Wounds from Childhood

1. What memories from your childhood still make you feel sad or hurt?
2. How did you cope with difficult emotions as a child?
3. Were there times when you felt unloved or unsupported? Why?
4. What was the most hurtful thing someone said or did to you as a child?
5. Are there any moments you wish you could go back and change?
6. What were the emotions you often kept to yourself as a child?
7. Did you ever feel like your feelings were invalidated?
8. Who or what made you feel safe growing up?
9. Are there any unmet needs from your childhood that you recognize now?
10. How did your childhood environment affect your ability to trust others?
11. What role did shame play in your childhood experiences?
12. Were there times you felt misunderstood? How did that impact you?
13. What were the hardest things for you to talk about as a child?
14. Were there any apologies you needed but never received?
15. How did you deal with rejection or failure as a child?
16. What was your relationship with self-expression when you were young?
17. Did you ever feel like you weren’t good enough?
18. How do these childhood wounds show up in your adult life now?
19. What can you say to your inner child to offer comfort and understanding?
20. How can you start addressing these emotional wounds today?

Related: 140+ Daily Affirmations for Your Inner Child Healing

Understanding and Processing Childhood Trauma

1. What specific events from childhood feel unresolved for you?
2. How did you process fear or danger as a child?
3. Did you have someone to turn to during traumatic moments?
4. How did your environment contribute to feelings of safety or danger?
5. What coping mechanisms did you develop to survive?
6. How has your childhood trauma shaped your view of the world?
7. Did you ever feel stuck in situations beyond your control?
8. What behaviors or patterns in your adult life stem from childhood trauma?
9. What words of comfort would you offer to your inner child during those moments?
10. What do you wish someone had said or done to protect you back then?
11. How did trauma affect your sense of self-worth?
12. Were there parts of yourself you had to hide to feel safe?
13. How do you feel when you look back at those experiences now?
14. Are there lingering triggers you want to work on?
15. What boundaries can you set now to protect yourself emotionally?
16. How can you give yourself the love and safety you needed back then?
17. What does healing from this trauma look like to you?
18. Who or what can support you in your healing journey?
19. How does acknowledging this trauma help you move forward?
20. What’s one step you can take today to start processing your trauma?

Related: 150 Journal Prompts for Healing Your Inner Child

Cultivating Self-Compassion and Acceptance

1. What are some things your younger self was good at?
2. How can you acknowledge the challenges your inner child faced?
3. What’s one thing you wish your younger self had heard more often?
4. How can you forgive yourself for mistakes you made as a child?
5. What are some ways your inner child showed resilience?
6. What do you appreciate about your inner child?
7. How can you show kindness to your inner child today?
8. What negative beliefs about yourself started in childhood?
9. How can you challenge those negative beliefs now?
10. What were some strengths you didn’t realize you had back then?
11. What were the circumstances that led you to behave in certain ways as a child?
12. Can you forgive your younger self for not knowing better?
13. What would you say to your inner child to show compassion?
14. How can you embrace your imperfections as an adult?
15. What’s one positive memory you can use to show love to your inner child?
16. How can you celebrate your inner child’s uniqueness?
17. What does self-compassion look like for you now?
18. What would your inner child want you to stop criticizing yourself for?
19. How can you remind yourself that you were just a child then?
20. How can accepting your inner child help you accept your adult self?

Reflecting on Family Relationships and Dynamics

1. How did your family shape your beliefs about yourself?
2. What was your relationship with your parents like as a child?
3. How did your siblings or other family members influence your childhood?
4. Were there any family dynamics that made you feel uncomfortable or unsafe?
5. What role did you play within your family (e.g., peacemaker, achiever)?
6. How did your family handle conflict?
7. Did you feel supported by your family growing up?
8. What lessons about love and relationships did you learn from your family?
9. How did your family celebrate milestones or special moments?
10. Were there unspoken rules in your family that shaped your behavior?
11. How did your family communicate affection or approval?
12. What kind of boundaries existed within your family?
13. How did family traditions or rituals make you feel?
14. What values did your family emphasize, and how do you feel about them now?
15. Were there times when you felt like an outsider in your family?
16. How did your family encourage or discourage your individuality?
17. How has your view of your family changed as you’ve grown older?
18. What would your inner child want to say to your family today?
19. What positive memories of family moments bring you comfort?
20. How can you redefine your relationship with family dynamics as an adult?

Rediscovering Your Childhood Joys and Passions

1. What activities made you happiest as a child?
2. What was your favorite way to spend a day off from school?
3. Did you have any hobbies or collections you loved?
4. What were the little things that brought you joy as a kid?
5. What kind of stories or books captivated you?
6. Were there any games or toys you couldn’t get enough of?
7. What songs or music did you enjoy as a child?
8. Did you have any imaginary friends or creative worlds?
9. What kind of drawings or crafts did you enjoy making?
10. What kind of adventures did you dream about going on?
11. Who or what made you laugh the most as a kid?
12. What food or treat felt like the ultimate reward?
13. What moments felt magical to you as a child?
14. What was your favorite thing about the holidays or celebrations?
15. Did you ever pretend to be someone or something during playtime?
16. What kind of career or role did you dream about having?
17. What’s a childhood memory that still makes you smile?
18. Were there any activities you lost interest in but are still thinking about?
19. How can you bring some of these joys into your life now?
20. What would your inner child want you to do today for fun?

Exploring Your Inner Child’s Dreams and Aspirations

1. What did your inner child want to be when they grew up?
2. What dreams or goals felt most exciting to your younger self?
3. Did you have a role model or hero you admired as a child?
4. What were some of the “impossible” things you wished for as a kid?
5. How did you envision your future when you were younger?
6. What parts of your childhood dreams still resonate with you today?
7. Were there any dreams you felt were discouraged by others?
8. What steps can you take now to honor your inner child’s aspirations?
9. How did you express your creativity in pursuit of your dreams as a child?
10. What small goals did your younger self achieve that you’re proud of?
11. How can you bring elements of those childhood dreams into your current life?
12. What’s one thing your younger self believed you could do that you still can?
13. How can you reimagine old dreams into something new and achievable?
14. What’s one thing you promised yourself as a child you’d never forget?
15. How did your inner child view success?
16. What held your younger self back from pursuing certain dreams?
17. What do you think your inner child would want you to focus on now?
18. How would your inner child celebrate your current achievements?
19. How can fulfilling your childhood dreams bring you closer to happiness?
20. What’s one thing you can do today to reconnect with your inner child’s aspirations?

Inspiring Growth and Playfulness in Adulthood

1. How can you incorporate play into your daily routine?
2. What’s one activity from your childhood you’d love to try again?
3. What hobbies or interests could bring you joy as an adult?
4. How can you make time for creativity in your life?
5. What would it feel like to embrace spontaneity more often?
6. What’s a playful way to connect with others around you?
7. How can you celebrate small moments of joy each day?
8. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to learn for fun?
9. How can you approach challenges with curiosity instead of fear?
10. What does having fun look like for you now?
11. How can you plan a day dedicated entirely to playfulness?
12. What’s a lighthearted activity you can share with a loved one?
13. How can you remind yourself not to take life too seriously?
14. What can you do to foster a sense of wonder in your life?
15. How can laughter become a bigger part of your day?
16. What’s a childlike activity that makes you feel free?
17. How can you surprise yourself with something fun this week?
18. How can you honor your inner child through a playful ritual?
19. What’s one way you can express joy without fear of judgment?
20. How can embracing playfulness improve your mental health?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts

So, what did you learn about your inner child? Hopefully, you discovered a little more about who you are and what you need. Whether it’s healing an old wound or bringing back some playfulness, this journey is all about giving yourself the care you might’ve missed as a kid.

Don’t overthink it. Start small, be patient, and let the answers come naturally. Some moments might feel heavy, but others could surprise you with joy or clarity.

In the end, it’s all about understanding yourself better and giving your younger self the kindness they always deserved.