Want to help make your child a stronger reader and a better critical thinker? Learn to ask the right questions!
When your child is reading (either alone or with you), engage in discussions that will stretch their imagination and inference skills. For instance, if your child is reading Harry Potter, you could ask them the following questions:
- If you could cast any spell, what would it be and why?
- If you could invent a potion, what would you create?
- Would you rather be a wizard or a “muggle”? Why?
- What would it feel like to see Hogwarts for the first time? Describe what you see in your mind’s eye.
Books vs. Movies
When a book has also been turned into a movie, encourage your child to read the book first! If your child has not seen the movie, their imagination will create a unique visual. Once the movie has been seen, the mind’s eye can conjure scenes from the movie.
If your child is a reluctant reader, you can use movies as a reading incentive! “Once you’re done reading this Percy Jackson book, we will have a movie night with your favorite treat or candy bar!” Then ask your child questions about how the movie compared to the “movie” they visualized in their imagination while reading.