Kids have this natural curiosity that even adults cannot explain. A day would never be complete without your preschooler asking questions that are so out of the blue and sometimes even awkward questions. Aside from giving them substantial answers, it is also very important that you converse with them regularly, and asking them the right open-ended questions is one way but a great start.
So what are open-ended questions?
These are questions that require more than one word as a response. Answers could be a list, a few sentences, or even as a form of essay, paragraph, or essay. these types of questions like these are not answerable by a simple yes or no. As a parent, it pays to know the difference between open-ended and closed-ended questions.
How Should You Be Asking Open-ended Questions?
Asking your child meaningful questions during the day could play a very vital role in your relationship. You can ask a variety of questions like how his or her day went or about their daily activities. Asking your child open-ended questions on a day to day basis can be of great help in your child’s growth. As your child begins to think about how he or she should plan, approach, and carry out his or her thoughts, conversations like these can help them expand their own ideas. To help your child be encouraged to think about his or her learning and developing language skills, the following are examples of open-ended questions that can be asked:
How did you know…?
Why do you think that happened…?
How did that happen?
How are these different?
Can you tell me why these are the same?
What can you possibly do about it?
What do you think comes next?
Tell me about…
Tell me how you…
When you ask your children a range of questions that require more than a yes or no for an answer, you are allowing them to establish their own level of creative thinking by being able to share and expand whatever knowledge they have regarding the topic. Most often, when you ask them questions like these, you think that you will get the most predictable answers. However, receiving unexpected responses from your children only leads to meaningful conversations that you truly will cherish.
What Makes Open-ended Questions Powerful?
Children’s growth naturally revolves around exploring, discovering, reflecting, and never-ending wondering which leads them to a complex increase in their knowledge and sophisticated thinking. Open-ended questions tap into your children’s natural cycle, inviting them to pursue their own curiosity about the world’s complexities and these are what makes these type of question more powerful than those of closed questions.
Questions that allow sharing of thoughts give children the idea that their teacher trusts them to have great thoughts and that they can think for themselves, hence being able to contribute in more valuable ways. Lots of questions can be asked by a teacher to a student but a fruitful exchange of thoughts in classroom activities.
Benefits of Asking Open-ended Questions to Preschoolers
If you think that asking these questions to your children is only relevant because they lead to great and unpredictable conversations, you are definitely wrong. Here are a few benefits of asking questions to children:
- Allowing your children to express their thoughts and ideas motivates them to learn more so they can have something more to share
- It helps them release fear and tension from something they might be going through
- You help them develop their feelings about a thing or two
- This technique also encourages your children to explore their own curiosity and later on create a beautiful story out of it
- Simply letting them talk to you about how their day went helps them improve their language skills
- Giving them the freedom to speak their minds out enhances their creativity and problem-solving skills
- Language development is also one of the best benefits that your children can get from answering your questions thoroughly instead of just giving out a one-word answer
- Parents who practice this technique develop harmonious relationships with their children even as they grow older
Always remember that instances, when you let your children explain, makes them feel important and cherished.
Examples of the Best Questions to Ask Depending on the Situation to Get Your Children Talking
Asking questions is not just about being able to shoot them out and receive answers. In order for a conversation with your preschooler to be effective and efficient, you also must know what questions should be best asked depending on the situation.
Questions to Ask About a Story
1. By looking at the picture, what do you the story will be all about?
2. How can you relate to the characters in the story?
3. How do you think you can help the character in the story resolve the problem?
4. How do think the story will end?
5. What conflicts can occur in the story?
Questions to Ask During Meal Time
1. How can you describe your meal lunch?
2. Why are you not touching your food?
3. What do you know about the food on your plate now?
4. How do you think a pancake is made?
5. What ingredients can you see in your pizza?
Questions to Ask On the Road
1. How will you go from our house to your school?
2. What do those lights mean?
3. What do these lines on the street mean to say?
4. Why is it important to wear a seat belt while driving?
5. What are the things you should do before crossing the street?
It could be easy to just ask questions to your preschoolers, especially random ones. When you ask them an open-ended question, your goal should not be getting a correct answer. Your main focus should be on how your children react to your questions and how they respond to them in words. Through this, you will be able to initially make an assessment of your children’s language skills and eventually come up with ways to help them improve.
Your children may need time to be able to talk at a certain age. Moreover, as parents, it is your responsibility to keep your children involved even in the simplest ways possible. Encouraging them to speak up by asking them the right questions as start-ups will surely make a great difference. Giving them time to develop their creative thinking skill will be a great benefit to them, especially as they grow older and start exploring the rest of the world.
Being a parent and keeping your home intact while making sure that your preschoolers get the knowledge they need is a nightmare. It is only a good thing that BabySteps is here to help you with developing your preschoolers’ language and thinking skills. We have long been providing high-quality help to the parents of our students when it comes to enhancing their ability to express themselves. We have a dedicated team that is willing to give your children the utmost care and attention. if you might be in need of further information regarding our services, do not hesitate to ring us at [phn].