Questions to Ask Kids that Build Communication

How many times have you asked your child a question and then received an answer that was less then satisfying. It is common for many parents to get those one word answers like yah, nah, or ok. The word good is also pretty popular in the vocabulary of most children. How was your day? Good. Fortunately, the short phrases and one word answers that exist in the dialogue of children can be improved by asking quality questions that promote thinking. In the example above, when children answer with the word good, it helps to rephrase the question and require them to be more specific. Instead, they could be asked to tell about the most interesting part of their day. This approach will help them to expand their answer and steer them away from short vague responses. Conversation skills are developed when care is taken to ask questions that guide children to think more deeply.

The first point to remember, for generating quality conversation with children, is to stay away from questions that elicit yes or no responses. Did you have a good day? This question is not going to get very much feedback. It is a limited question that eliminates the need for children to expand on their answer. Asking an open-ended question, on the other hand, forces them to provide specific detail and promotes communication. Below are examples of how to phrase questions to be open-ended, for the purpose of improving the responses children give.

Observe the chart on the right. It is easy to see how limited questions will inhibit the responses in children and begin a dialogue that only ends quickly. Open-ended questions, on the other hand, encourage children to give answers that contain greater detail. This facilitates richer conversations by requiring them to think more deeply about what they are going to say.

Below is a chart of descriptors to assist parents and educators in asking quality questions. These open-ended questions attempt to improve the responses children make by getting them to focus their thinking in key areas. In our efforts to build communication in children it is important to remember that it is a process and it takes time for children to build their expression and verbal skills.

Not all parents have the problem of getting their children to talk but all children will benefit from questions that help them improve their responses. For those children who have difficulty expressing their ideas, open-ended questions are critical. Don't expect, however, that by asking one good question you will open the verbal flood gates. It takes time and practice for some children to feel comfortable sharing answers. Create opportunities to build positive communication by playing games and toys together. In the beginning, it may be necessary to make suggestions, for some children, to assist their responses but ultimately we want our children to contribute to the conversation. Give them time to think. It is ok for them to pause and collect their thoughts. After all, there are a lot of possible answers to an open-ended question!