One of the easiest ways to Tiny Parent is to ask questions. I’m not talking about grilling them like a detective on Law Order, DUNH DUNH! – what’s that color; how many birds do you see, what kind of shape is that – but actually starting a conversation with them about something an experience you are sharing with them.
The right kind of question can really get them thinking. Asking “what do you think would happen if…” at a water table, or sandbox, or while cooking, can spark curiosity and wonder about how the world works… it’s the starting point of all scientific inquiry!
They can get really creative with their imagination if you talk to them about what they think will happen next when reading a story together.
When they tell you the answer to a question, digging a little deeper and asking them ‘how do they know’ is a way to get beyond a rote response (and there’s plenty of science that suggests when you explain something to another person, the learning and understanding is ‘stickier.’)
And, when in doubt, simply ask ‘what do you see,’ as a starting off point to focus and observe the world going on around them.
The trick is to go beyond questions that would be followed by a yes/no/one-word answer (like, ‘what kind of animal is that?’ or ‘what do you call that?’). That’s really just quizzing them, not having a conversation. Use any of the questions above, and you are pretty sure to get a good back and forth.
The bonus is that asking these kinds of open-ended questions is one of the best ways to learn language and communication skills. All this AND a simple way to share a connected moment… Winner!