Open-ended questions for children: 30 questions that help them think deeper

"How was school?" "Good." "What did you do?" "Nothing." Many parents know this conversation by heart. Often the problem isn't the child but the question: it can be answered in one word. Open-ended questions invite children to explain, imagine and give reasons, and they turn everyday moments into small chances to think.

What makes a question open

A closed question has a short or single right answer: "Did you have fun?" "What colour is it?" An open question has many possible answers and asks the child to think: "What was the most fun part, and why?"

Closed questions are useful too. But a few open ones each day give children practice in explaining, imagining and seeing things from another side.

30 questions for everyday moments

These are starting points. Change the words to fit your child and the moment.

At the table

What was the best part of your day, and why?
What was something hard today?
Who did you help today, or who helped you?
What did you wonder about today?
If you could add one thing to this meal, what would it be?
If you were the cook tomorrow, what would you make, and how?

On the way somewhere

What do you think that building is used for? How can you tell?
If you could change one thing about this park, what would it be?
Where do you think all these cars are going?
What sounds can you hear, and what is making them?
What do you think this street looked like a long time ago?
How else could we get home?

At bedtime

What made you laugh today?
If you could have one animal's ability for a day, which would you choose?
What would you like to try tomorrow?
What are you proud of this week?
What do you think your toys do at night?
If you could ask anyone one question, who would it be, and what would you ask?

While playing and making

What are you building? What happens next?
If we have no glue, what could we use instead?
How could you make it taller, stronger or faster?
What would happen if we changed one rule of this game?
What's another way to sort these?
What was tricky, and how did you work it out?

With books and stories

Why do you think the character did that?
What would you have done instead?
How do you think the story will end?
How would the story change if it happened in our town?
Which character would you like to be friends with, and why?
If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?

Following up when the answer is short

The first answer is often short. A gentle follow-up opens it up:

"Tell me more about that."
"What makes you say that?"
"How did you know?"
"What else?"
"What would happen next?"

When the answer is "I don't know"

Wait a little. Count to five in your head. Thinking takes time.
Offer two choices. "Was it more fun in the morning or the afternoon?"
Share your own answer first. "The best part of my day was finding a parking space right by the door."
Ask a smaller question. "Who did you sit next to at lunch?"
Try later. Many children talk more in the car, in the bath or just before sleep than straight after school.

What tends to get in the way

Too many questions in a row. One or two good questions feel like a conversation. Ten feel like a test.
Correcting every answer. Open questions don't have one right answer, so listen before adding your view.
Only asking about school results. Questions about ideas, feelings and imagination invite more thinking than "Did you get it right?"

In short

Open questions have many possible answers and invite children to explain and imagine.
A few open questions at meals, on outings, at bedtime and during play are enough.
Short answers can be opened up with "Tell me more" or "What makes you say that?"
Give time, choices and your own example when the answer is "I don't know".