Why it's good to turn the tables on your child and ask all the "Why?" questions.
by Babs Hadjusiewicz
May 14, 2009
Okay, remember how I mentioned
yesterday that today on THINKing Thursday we'd do some THINKing about how you can give your young or not-so-young child those much-talked-about (and tested!) comprehension skills. So, when we talk about comprehension skills, it means that your child needs to comprehend, or
get it, when s/he hears or reads language. Yes, every word carries meaning for your child. So today, we'll focus on one tip for how you can help your child grab knowledge from the words you two use today as you TALK to each other and to other people you meet up with.
Building comp skills (as we in education call them) means you'll be TALKing a whole lot today, just like on TALKing Tuesdays...and on every other day with your child! Why? Because each time you TALK, you have two
eager listening ears. And when you have those ears listening, then there's THINKing happening. THINKing in order to make sense or comprehend or get meaning from all those words you're saying. So let's TALK Comprehension™ today. How do you do that? One way is to ask a lot of questions, questions that you
know your child can answer. So let's say you and your toddler to age 5 child are crossing the street at a green light. Ask, "Hey, why do we need to have traffic lights like that green one?" (Give the answer if your child isn't actually talking yet.) Ask, "Who gets to go on a green light? Who has to stop at a red light?" For each response, ask your child, "Why?"
With your older child, ask, "What could happen if we had no traffic lights?" or "When do you think traffic lights were invented?" That last question is sure to get your child THINKing
and ready to do some research with you when you get home. (A quick search suggests there are some who would say the first traffic light with three colors was in place in Detroit, Michigan in 1920. Others dispute that claim, however, so check it out and you and your child will be gaining comprehension of new knowledge today!) Enjoy THINKing Thursday...and building your child's comp skills by asking lots of questions about anything and everything viewed and heard around you two. WOW! Then tune in
tomorrow for yet another language-and-knowledge-building tip on Free-for-All Friday!
™TALK Comprehension is a trademark of Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz.
Babs Hadjusiewicz
Author
Hey, thanks for stopping by. Check out our digital downloads right here in my store at www.babsyb.com. You'll also find many of my publications in my Bee with Babsy B store on Teachers Pay Teachers' site. Come back often!
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Babs Hadjusiewicz
Author
Hey, thanks for stopping by. Check out our digital downloads right here in my store at www.babsyb.com. You'll also find many of my publications in my Bee with Babsy B store on Teachers Pay Teachers' site. Come back often!