Reading with your child is one of the most powerful ways to support their learning — but it’s not just about sounding out words. To become confident readers, children need to understand what they’re reading.
That’s where good questions come in.

Asking simple, age-appropriate questions while reading helps children:
✔ think about the story
✔ make predictions
✔ understand characters
✔ link ideas together
✔ build vocabulary

Here are 10 easy questions you can use with any book to boost your child’s comprehension and build deeper understanding.

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1. “What do you think will happen next?”

This encourages predicting — a key reading skill. Children learn to think ahead and use clues from the text and pictures.

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2. “Why do you think the character did that?”

This builds inference (reading between the lines). It helps children understand motives and feelings, not just actions.

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3. “How do you think the character is feeling?”

Great for emotional vocabulary.
You can follow up with:

• “What tells you that?”
• “Can you show that face?”
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4. “Where is the story happening?”

Simple, but important!
Talking about setting helps children picture the story in their mind.

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5. “What has happened so far?”

This checks recall.
Children learn to summarise without retelling every tiny detail.

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6. “Who is your favourite character and why?”

This sparks opinions and encourages children to justify their thinking.

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7. “What is the problem in the story?”

Most stories follow a structure: beginning → problem → solution.
Spotting the problem helps children understand story shape.

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8. “How do you think the problem will be solved?”

A great follow-on question that builds logical thinking.

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9. “Did this story remind you of anything?”

Making connections boosts comprehension.
Children may link it to:

• another story

• something they’ve done

• something at school

• a film they’ve watched

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10. “What was your favourite part?”

A lovely way to finish reading.
It encourages reflection and helps children talk confidently about books.

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Top Tips for Asking Questions

✔ Don’t ask questions on every page — choose a few natural moments
✔ Keep the tone relaxed and fun
✔ Praise effort, not just correct answers
✔ Offer sentence starters if needed:

• “I think…”

• “Maybe…”

• “It could be because…”

Remember: the goal isn’t to “test” your child — it’s to help them think.

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Why Comprehension Matters

Strong comprehension skills:
✨ improve vocabulary
✨ help children enjoy reading
✨ support writing
✨ build confidence across the curriculum

Decoding words is only the first step. Understanding them is where the magic happens.

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Final Thoughts

Reading together is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support your child’s learning. By asking just a few thoughtful questions, you can help them develop deeper comprehension and become a more confident, engaged reader.

If you’d like support with reading, phonics, or comprehension, I offer fun, interactive tutoring sessions tailored to Reception–Year 3 children.
📩 Feel free to get in touch for a friendly chat.

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