If your income was from working (earned income) and cannot be claimed by someone else, you should file a tax return. If you had at least $3000 of earned income, you would qualify for some additional child tax credit for any dependents under the age of 17. You would also qualify for earned income credit.

If you live with someone else such as a parent and you and your children meet the tests to be claimed by them, then the total household might get a bigger tax refund for the two families in total by allowing your parent to claim you and your children.