A Teachers Secret For High Quality Play
Stephen MohanQuestion:
Does this conversation sound familiar to you?
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Parent: “Are you building a castle”
Child: “Yes”
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End of conversation.
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That’s it
Your child continues to play, and we parents are left looking like this:
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This conversation was over before it started.
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why?
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Because it started with a close ended question.
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A closed ended question only has one answer.
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An answer that is normally one-word.
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While closed ended question serve a purpose, they are not exactly the best at getting kids to talk.
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The solution
Open ended questions.
How do I know this?
Well I was I one of those kids,
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I hated talking.
But it turns out my mum, who was a teacher for 22 years.
Knew all about open ended questions and their incredible power for sparking conversation.
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Later, I will reveal her number one trick for getting me and countless other “quiet” children to talk.
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In a nutshell:
Open ended questions will make your child talk.
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The benefits of open-ended questions:
Open ended questions can significantly enhance the quality and duration of your child’s play.
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Here are the 4 main benefits of open-ended questions:
- Critical thinking
Open ended questions encourage children to analyse, evaluate and reflect therefore helping them learn faster.
- Enhance language skills
The more they speak the more they will be able to express their ideas and thoughts. Which means they will be an effective communicator when they grow up.
- Foster creativity and imagination
Open ended questions invite children to explore, create and invent.
- Develop communications and social skills
Open ended question help children become well liked because they teach children to listen, speak in turn and respect other opinions.
Strategies for implementing open-ended questions into play:
When trying to implement open ended questions into play you must only interfere when:
- Your child seems to be losing interest in playing.
- Their play is stalling as the have become stuck.
- Your child invites you in.
Strategy 1: Closed ended question followed by open ended questions
Remember I told you about my mum’s number one trick?
Well, this is it and it got me every time.
Using this strategy, she managed to turn a solitary child into a nonstop talking machine.
A skill that significantly benefited my childhood and adult life.
Thanks mum.
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Strategy 2: Ask stimulating questions
Do you like answering boring questions?
Would you start to avoid that co-worker who also asks the most boring, dry questions?
Of course you would.
So then why expect anything different from your child.
You need to ask your child stimulating questions,
but
they need to be personal.
Ask about your child’s interests and experiences.
Strategy 3: Give them time to answer
They aren’t ignoring you they just need time to think.
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Strategy 4: Express interest in their answer
Your child is smart.
Your child can notice when someone is being fake.
After you ask the question, show an interest in their response
nod along,
make eye contact,
use facial expression.
Bonus points if you use part of their answer in a follow up question.
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Strategy 5: Keep the conversation going
While you want you child to practice their language skills.
You don’t want them to think a conversation is a monologue.
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Share your own experience and thought.
Show your child how to have a proper conversation.
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Strategy 6: Watch their expression and behaviour.
Your child is probably not the best actor, yet!
Watch, their facial expressions and body language.
If they are unengaged talk about something else.
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Conclusion:
The conversations and connections your child has during their crucial developmental years set the foundation for the type of future they will have.
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Therefore I have complied all the information, tips and trick I have learnt during my 8 years as a teacher into my:
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PLAYTIME MASTERCLASS
To receive it for
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FREE
Write your email address in the box bellow and click the arrow.
I will then send you the masterclass.
Simple.
(please check your spam folder if you don’t receive your email straight away).
