- 1). Ask questions that have neither a correct nor incorrect answer. An example of an open-ended question is: What would you do if a monkey was chasing you? Your child's answer could be any number of things; therefore, the question is open-ended.
- 2). Focus on all the possible answers your child could say rather than one you desire to hear. Don't steer the question to a specific outcome. An example of steering the question is: Do you think the sky is really blue? This question is not necessarily closed-ended, but it doesn't give him much room to express a point of view.
- 3). Be imaginative. The point of asking open-ended questions is to provoke thought in your child. The more thought-provoking your questions, the more he will think about the answers and analyze the story's content.
- 4). Ask your child open-ended questions periodically throughout the story. While asking a question after every line may be tedious, asking a question every page or two will add to the story time experience. This will make it more fun for you and your child.
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