When trying to prompt our children to speak, asking open ended questions can help get a conversation started.
  

Good Openers:

• What is happening?
• How do things work? (i.e., How does the car work?)
• How did it happen? (i.e., How did he hurt himself?)
• Why questions (i.e., Why is she staying home?)
• What will happen next?
• "What if" questions (i.e., What will happen if I drop a raw egg? What would you do if I screamed really loud?)
• When questions (i.e., When will Bobby come home?)

Try to avoid these questions which can be answered with only one word:

• Yes/no questions  (i.e., Is that man coming here?)
• Intonational questions (i.e., That's all I have to do?)
• What questions - asking for labels (i.e., What is that?)
• Tag questions (i.e., She's not very happy, is she?)
• Who questions (i.e., Who were you talking to?)
• Where questions (i.e., Where are they going?

Kid Talk Video: