According to PBS.com, reading aloud to kids has clear cognitive benefits. By using brain scans of children, researchers were able to see that hearing stories strengthens the part of the brain associated with visual imagery, story/reading comprehension, and word meaning. However, that is not all. By actually asking children a few questions while you read with them, also gives the opportunity for parents to encourage empathy, critical thinking, and foster open communication that can lead to special bonding moments.

“​​I love so many children’s books. They give such an amazing opportunity to have meaningful moments, short spurts of conversation,” explained parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy in a New York Times interview. “I might say, ‘Hmm, I wonder what that character is going to do,’ or ‘What do you think happens at the end of the book?’ or ‘That reminds me of being that age. Did you know I was also left out?’”

What other questions can parents add to their arsenals that will help them bring books to life for their children, creating life-long readers? Per the experts at Motherly.com, these questions should definitely be on your list!

“What do you think will happen next?”

By asking this question, parents are helping their child develop their “sequencing of events” skills. Sequencing of events skills are a very important tool that allows us to talk about something that happened in a chronological order.

“How do you think the character feels right now?”

By asking this question, parents are helping their child define emotions. You can take it even a step further and ask the child, have they themselves ever felt that way. This will hopefully open the flood gates for them to tell you all about their own story.

“What’s happening in this picture?”

By asking this question, parents are helping their child stretch their creativity. According to the experts, pictures engage and give both sides of the brain a healthy workout. Additionally, by asking this question, parents are helping their child develop their inference skills.

“Why do you think the character did that?”

By asking this question, parents are helping their child, once again with making inferences. Parents are able to tell if their child is actually understanding the journey that the character is on. By asking this question, parents are pushing the envelope to have their child use background knowledge to actually draw conclusions. 

“Can you remember a time when you felt like the character did?”

By asking this question, parents are helping their child, once again to open the flood gates. Perhaps, they will recall a time when they did feel just like the character, giving an opportunity for some quality conversation and bonding time.

“Do you know what this word means?”

By asking this question, parents are helping their child, with reading comprehension. By the child’s response, parents are able to monitor understanding. If the child doesn’t know what the word actually means, then right then and there, the story becomes a teaching moment.

As you can see, reading together with your child can be much more than just picking up a book and regurgitating the words. It can definitely be more of an adventure for all.

For more engaging questions to take your parent/child reading time to the next level, click here.