'Tuesday Tidbit'-Asking Open-Ended Questions

Asking Open-Ended Questions

A question like, "What color is that block?" evokes a one-word answer. But an open-ended question, "Tell me about the blocks you are using," encourages a child to describe the blocks or explain what she is doing. There is no right or wrong answer here.

An answer to an open-ended question gives us a window into what the child is thinking and feeling. And the response is sometimes wonderfully creative. In explaining or describing, children also use language more fully.

Here are some examples:

* Tell me about your picture.
* What else can you do with the play dough?
* What could you use to make the tower stand up?
* What do you think would happen if_____?
* Is there another way to_____?

It is difficult to change the closed-end question habit. But when we ask open-ended questions, children reap great benefits as they think through their responses to express what they want to say. And with their answers, we find out more about what they think and feel.

This tidbit is taken from Family-Friendly Communication for Early Childhood Programs edited by Deborah Diffily and Kathy Morrison.

Creating and Making Art with PAPER

You never really think of the different types of paper children can use when creating. "Preschool children are delighted to have paper available to paint, color, tear or paste. They do not care if the source of the paper is the classified secion, computer paper printouts, or leftovers from print shops.(Don't Move the Muffin Tins by Bev Bos)."

Here are some different types of paper to aid in your child's creativity:
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**FEATURED FAVE**

* Coffee Filters: From coloring them to dipping and dying them, the coffee filters have many uses in creating art with your child.
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* Newsprint
* Classified Sections
* Wallpaper
* Butcher Paper
* Tissue Paper
* Construction Paper
* White Drawing Paper
* Paper Plates

Next Monday, will post some activities involving different types of paper. ENJOY getting creative!

'Tuesday Tidbit'- "Process and Product"

This tidbit can be found in the "Family-Friendly Communication for Early Childhood Programs" book (pg. 8). I found it paired very nicely with Art, or creating that I have been focusing on the last couple posts. This book really is amazing for teachers and parents!

Process and Product

As adults, we are concerned with the outcomes or the product of our efforts. We want the report to look nice, the cookies to taste great, or the hedges to be perfectly straight. We participate in few activities just for the fun of doing them.

In part this is because we are NOT still learning how to do most of these activities. But do you remember when you learned how to play tennis or golf? Or use a new computer program? In the beginning you needed to do a certain amount of "messing around"-- exploring what would happen if you did this or that.

That is the way it is with your child. Kids are learning new things all the time, and they need the freedom to try things out without worrying about the product.

Luckily, young children tend to be more involved with the process or the doing than they are with the end product or results. That is why your child may draw all afternoon yet still not be able to tell you what he drew. And why one child can pour rice back and forth between pitchers all day long, and another will string an unstring beads every day for a week.

It is hard for us adults to look beyond the product of an activity and see what he child is learning from the process. Perhaps he's learning coordination or beginning writing skills or making discoveries about triangles or gravity. He's certainly finding out that doing for one's self is very satisfying--and that builds confidence.

Be patient. Allow your child the time to grow and learn through the various processes that are part of the task. Enjoy watching his or her involvement. Later, we all can be proud of the product.