LA T3.06The Question Game
The adult asks simple "where" and "what" questions about pictures, objects, and events, and answers the child's own questions, so the child learns to answer and ask.
Presentation
- 1
Sit with the child and look at the picture together. Name two or three things in it.
- 2
Ask a "where" question: "Where is the cat?" Wait for the child to point. Say: "There is the cat. The cat is on the chair."
- 3
Ask a "what" question about something the child knows: "What is the girl holding?" Wait at least five seconds.
- 4
Accept a point, a word, or a sentence. Repeat the answer in a full sentence: "A cup. She is holding a cup."
- 5
If the child does not answer, answer the question yourself and move on, without asking again.
- 6
Invite the child to ask you: "Now you ask me." Answer any question they ask in a full sentence. This is the point of interest: the child asks a question.
- 7
Keep to two or three questions and stop while the child is still interested.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- "Where" questions about objects in the room: "Where is your coat?"
- "Who" questions about photographs of familiar people
- Questions about a book just read: "What did the boy eat?"
- "What happened?" questions about something the child just did
Control of error
The adult, who repeats a correct answer in a full sentence and answers the question themselves when the child cannot.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Answers "where" questions by pointing or going to the object
- Answers "what" questions with a word or short sentence
- Answers "who" questions about familiar people in photographs
- Asks "what" or "where" questions on their own
Guide note
Leave "why" and "when" questions for the 3–6 room; they are harder and usually come after age 3. Many questions in a row feel like a test; mix questions with comments.