Children ask a lot of questions, sometimes those that repeat themselves a lot and, most of the time, we have to answer them over and over again. In fact, studies have shown that young children ask an average of more than 300 questions per day, an amount that you might find challenging to deal with. We all would probably like to stop this habit, however, we should encourage our children to ask more questions, not less. Why? Because one of our most important roles as parents is to help our children develop their imagination, creativity, and curiosity. How can we do this effectively while minimizing the constant questions? The answer to this question is both surprising and effective! You need to start asking them questions!
Dr. Michele Borba, a psychologist and author of many instructional books for parents, says that asking children questions can help help them maintain an open mind and prevent them from developing a mental fixation. He argues that it is very important that our children develop the imagination and their desire to know more, and she explains that we can help them do so not only by answering their many questions but also by asking questions ourselves. Most of us know that children mimic their parents' words, behaviors and way of speaking - so it's a good idea to start asking your children more profound questions than "How was your day," especially when they are constantly asking you questions. So, try using the following 40 questions to help your children talk to you more and develop their imagination, creativity, and curiosity:
1. What makes you happy?
2. If you could do anything at this moment, what would you do?
3. What do you look forward to when you wake up in the morning?
4. Who makes you laugh the most?
5. If you were to open a store, what would you sell?
6. Into what show would you like to enter as a character, and why?
7. If you could grow anything you wanted in the yard, what would you grow?
8. What makes you feel brave?
9. What makes you feel loved?
10. How do you show people you care about them?
11. How does it feel when I hug you?
12. If your toys could talk, what would they say?
13. If you could donate 100 dollars, who would you donate it to?
14. If you were writing a book, what would it be about?
15. If you were a clothing designer, how would they look?
16. What makes you appreciative?
17. What sounds do you like?
18. Where would you choose to travel, and how would you get there?
19. Imagine that you are a chef: tell me about your restaurant, for example,
what food do you serve?
20. If you had a secret cave in the forest, what would be inside of it?
21. If you could ask any animal you want anything in the world, what would you ask?
22. What makes you fill up with energy?
23. If you were in a play, what would your character be like?
24. How do you think animals communicate?
25. What are the best thing, or things, in nature?
26. Imagine you are a photographer, what pictures would you choose to photograph?
27. What memory makes you happy?
28. What bothers you?
29. Describe your perfect day, what do you do that makes it so?
30. Which animal would make the best driver and why?
31. What makes your friends good?
32. What makes you good?
33. Do you have any inventions you’ve come up with?
34. Do you think it would be fun to learn another language?
35. What are the three things you most want to do in the summer?
36. If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be?
37. What makes a person smart?
38. If you had friends from all over the world, how would you keep in touch with them?
39. If you could choose new names for colors, what would they be?
40. What is it that you enjoy giving people?
