Encourage Critical Thinking with Open-Ended Questions

Ask Open-ended Questions:

• Encourage children to think more deeply about topics by asking questions that don’t have a simple yes/no or right/wrong answer.
• For example, instead of asking, “Did you like the story?”, ask, “What did you think about the story’s ending?”

How to Ask About Your Kids’ School or Daily Life

1. Instead of asking, “Did you have a good day?”, ask, “What was the best part of your day and why?”
2. Instead of asking, “Did you play with your friends?”, ask, “What games did you and your friends play today, and what was the most fun part about them?”
3. Instead of asking, “Did you learn anything new?”, ask, “What was the most interesting thing you learned today, and why did it capture your attention?”
4. Instead of asking, “Was lunch good?”, ask, “What did you have for lunch, and how would you make it even tastier next time?”
5. Instead of asking, “Was the teacher nice?”, ask, “How did your teacher make the class engaging today?”
6. Instead of asking, “Did you do any art?”, ask, “Can you describe the art project you worked on and what inspired you?”
7. Instead of asking, “Was the math test hard?”, ask, “What questions on the math test challenged you, and how did you approach them?”
8. Instead of asking, “Do you have homework?”, ask, “What’s your homework about, and how do you plan to tackle it?”
9. Instead of asking, “Did you read any books?”, ask, “Which story or character in the book you read today did you find most intriguing, and why?”
10. Instead of asking, “Did you get into trouble?”, ask, “What happened that made you or others upset, and how could it be handled differently next time?”
11. Instead of asking, “Did you enjoy the field trip?”, ask, “What was the most memorable moment of the field trip and what made it stand out?”
12. Instead of asking, “Do you like your new classmates?”, ask, “What’s something unique or interesting you’ve learned about one of your new classmates?”
13. Instead of asking, “Was the assembly boring?”, ask, “What was the main message of the assembly, and how did it make you feel?”
14. Instead of asking, “Do you have any group projects?”, ask, “How is your team dividing the tasks for the group project, and what role are you excited about?”
15. Instead of asking, “Did you do well in the sports/game?”, ask, “What skills did you use in today’s game, and what do you want to improve for the next one?”
16. Instead of asking, “Was music class fun?”, ask, “What song or instrument did you explore in music class, and what emotions did it evoke in you?”
17. Instead of asking, “Did you help in class?”, ask, “In what ways did you contribute to the class or help a classmate today?”
18. Instead of asking, “Is your classroom nice?”, ask, “What’s your favorite spot in the classroom, and why do you like it?”
19. Instead of asking, “Are you excited for tomorrow?”, ask, “What’s one thing you’re looking forward to tomorrow, and why?”
20. Instead of asking, “Did you finish your work?”, ask, “How did you feel about the work you completed today, and is there something you’re particularly proud of?”

These open-ended questions not only encourage deeper thought but also provide an opportunity for children to reflect on their experiences and express their feelings more profoundly.