
Questions, Questions!
An article about using children’s questions as a springboard into playful learning.
Young children are natural scientists. They are full of curiosity about the world. That curiosity means they will have a lot of questions, which are wonderful invitations to play. When children ask questions, you have a chance to turn that curiosity into action! You might consider:
Answering Questions With a Question
Even if you know the answer to a child’s question, try asking what they think. This builds thinking skills and encourages curiosity.
- If children ask a “how” question, such as “how does this work?” answer with a question such as “What do you think?” and “How could we find out?”
- If children ask a “why” question, such as “Why is this wheel round?”, answer with a question such as “What would happen if it was square?”
- Encourage children to draw pictures, make up stories, and do pretend play to explore their questions.
Asking Your Own Questions
Your questions can send children into a world of exploration. Ask questions that start with phrases such as:
- What could you use this for?
- How you do think we could…?
- What are three ways to…?
- What might happen if we…?
- What is another way to…?
Brought to you by SC Johnson
Helping families stay healthy, connected, and full of curiosity.

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