At the bottom of every coloring page on this site, under "Talk about it while you color," there are a few questions written for your child. Pick one, ask it while their crayon is moving, and follow their answer. You don't need to ask all of them, and there are no right answers to check.
Where to find them
Open any page, such as page 2, Meet Curious Bunny. Scroll past the artwork, the story line, and the "About this page" note. The questions are the last list before the Previous and Next links. On page 2, the first one is "What do you think Curious Bunny is wondering about that ladybug?"
The questions are only on each page's own web page, not in the online reader, so keep that page open on a phone or laptop while your child colors a printed copy.
How to ask them
- Wait until your child is settled into coloring. Busy hands often make for easier talking.
- Read the question the way it's written, or put it in your own words.
- Give them time. Count to five in your head before you say anything else.
- Follow up on what they say. "Why do you think that?" and "How could we find out?" work on almost any answer.
If your child isn't in a talking mood, let it go. Coloring the page is still time well spent.
Three kinds of questions
I wrote the questions to match what each page teaches, so you'll notice a pattern:
- Noticing questions, like "Have you ever looked at a bug up close? What did you notice?" on page 2, fit Chapter 1.
- Guessing questions, like "Which path would you take first?", show up in Chapter 3.
- Personal questions, like "Who would you ask to check your work?" on page 87, connect the research idea to your child's own life.
When you want more
If your child loves these conversations, 10 Questions to Ask Your Child While They Color gives you a set that works with any page. For more ideas, see What should I ask while my child colors?