“Did you like the story?” If that’s the only question your child hears after reading, you might be missing a big chance to grow their thinking skills. Comprehension questioning goes beyond a simple yes or no, helping your child explore the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of what they read.

In this blog, we’ll look at why questioning matters for comprehension. You’ll discover the different types of comprehension questions, strategies you can use, and steps to apply comprehension questioning in the classroom. Whether it’s a school book or a bedtime story, these ideas will help your child read with curiosity, understanding, and confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Comprehension questioning helps your child think deeper about what they read, not just remember facts.

• Asking open-ended and “why” questions encourages critical thinking and better connections between ideas.

• Making it part of everyday reading keeps learning fun and natural for your child.

• FunFox’s Readers Club offers interactive lessons aligned with the Australian curriculum to build confidence and comprehension.

What Is Comprehension Questioning?

Comprehension questioning is about helping your child truly understand what they read, not just pronounce the words. By asking questions before, during, and after reading, you encourage them to think more deeply about the story or information. These moments of questioning give your child time to pause, reflect, and link what they already know with new ideas from the text.

Now that you know what comprehension questioning means, let’s look at why it plays such an important role in a child’s reading journey.

Also Read: How Writing Enhances Reading Skills

Why Questioning Matters for Comprehension?

Reading isn’t just about saying the words; it’s about making sense of them, connecting ideas, and thinking about what they mean. That’s why questioning is such a powerful tool for building your child’s comprehension skills. Here are some key ways it makes a difference.

1. Turns Reading Into Active Thinking

When you ask questions, your child moves from simply reading words to truly engaging with them. They begin thinking, wondering, and searching for answers, which turns reading into an active process instead of just flipping through pages.

2. Builds Deeper Understanding

Questioning helps your child go beyond the surface of a story. Instead of only recalling facts, they start connecting ideas, exploring the “why,” and forming their own thoughts about the events and characters.

3. Develops Critical Thinking Skills

By asking thoughtful questions, you guide your child to look for clues, predict what might happen next, and see situations from different perspectives. These are skills that benefit them not only in reading but also in everyday problem-solving.

4. Helps Spot Key Ideas and Details

Through regular questioning, your child learns to identify the key moments, recognize the main idea, and remember important points. They begin to understand the difference between small details and the big ideas that shape the story.

5. Boosts Confidence and Independence

As children get used to questioning while reading, they become better at understanding texts on their own. This independence builds their confidence and helps them feel ready to take on more challenging books.

6. Makes Learning Social and Fun

Comprehension questioning naturally invites conversation, whether it’s between you and your child at home or among classmates at school. Sharing ideas, listening to others, and seeing different points of view make reading a shared and enjoyable experience.

Also Read: Reading Fluency Norms and Standards

With the ‘why’ clear, it’s time to explore the ‘what’, the types of comprehension questions that help children think and connect ideas.

With weekly progress feedback from FunFox, you can see how your child’s comprehension questioning skills grow over time.

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Types of Comprehension Questions

When you use comprehension questioning with your child, you’ll notice there are a few main types of questions that come up in most reading sessions. Understanding these makes it easier to guide your child’s thinking and can make homework or story time much smoother.

1. Literal Questions

Literal questions focus on facts and details that are directly stated in the text. Your child can “point to the answer” in the story, whether it’s a name, a place, or something that happened.

Examples you might ask:

• Where did the story take place?

• What did the character eat for breakfast?

• How many birds were in the tree?

These are especially helpful for younger children (around ages 3–6) as they build confidence and get used to recalling simple information.

2. Inferential Questions

Inferential questions encourage your child to “read between the lines.” The answer isn’t stated directly; they’ll need to use clues from the story and what they already know.

Examples you might ask:

• Why do you think the girl was sad?

• How did the boy know it was going to rain?

• What do you think will happen next?

These are ideal for children aged 7 and up as they help develop logical thinking and connect different parts of the story.

3. Evaluative Questions

Evaluative questions invite your child to share opinions or make judgments about the story. They might decide whether a character’s actions were right or wrong, or talk about the lessons learned.

Examples you might ask:

• Do you think the character made a good choice?

• Would you have done the same thing in that situation?

• What lesson do you think the story teaches?

Older children (around ages 10–12) benefit most from these as they encourage empathy and help them explore bigger ideas in the text.

4. Applied Questions

Applied questions connect the story to real life. They help your child see how a lesson from the book might be useful in their own experiences.

Examples you might ask:

• How could what the character learned help you at home?

• Have you ever felt like the character? What did you do?

• Can you think of a time when something similar happened to you?

These lead to meaningful conversations and show your child how reading can relate to their own world.

5. Vocabulary and Sequencing Questions

Some questions help with language and memory by focusing on the meaning of words or the order of events in a story.

Examples you might ask:

• What does “brave” mean in this story?

• What happened first, second, and last?

These are useful for growing vocabulary, improving recall, and helping your child understand how stories are structured.

Also Read: Types of Reading Impairments and Solutions

Once you’re clear on the types, the next step is putting them into action in ways that keep children engaged and thinking critically.

Strategies to Implement Comprehension Questioning

The following are eight simple yet powerful ways to make comprehension questioning a natural part of reading time with your child. You can use them during homework, bedtime stories, or even when reading for fun. Each strategy not only builds understanding but also makes reading a more enjoyable and meaningful experience.

1. Start with Big, Open Questions

Begin by asking broad, open-ended questions that give your child space to share what they noticed, understood, or imagined. These aren’t “right or wrong” questions—they’re a way to open up the conversation.

• Example: “What do you think this story is about?” or “What happened at the beginning?”

• Why it works: Open questions encourage your child to put the story into their own words, which helps with recall and builds confidence. They also set a relaxed tone for the rest of your discussion.

2. Connect the Story to Their Life

Help your child see themselves in the story by asking questions that link it to their own experiences.

• Example: “Have you ever felt like this character?” or “What would you do if you were in their place?”

• Why it works: Personal connections make reading more meaningful. Your child will understand the story on a deeper level because they can relate to the emotions or situations, and it also builds empathy.

3. Zoom In on Key Moments

Choose specific parts of the story and ask questions that make your child think more deeply about them.

• Example: “Why do you think the character made that choice?” or “What might happen next?”

• Why it works: Focusing on key events helps your child practice analyzing cause and effect, making predictions, and thinking critically about the plot and characters.

4. Mix Simple and Tricky Questions

Use a combination of fact-based questions (easy to answer from the text) and thought-based questions (requiring inference or opinion).

• Example: “Who is the main character?” (simple) and “Why do you think the author ended it this way?” (tricky)

• Why it works: Mixing questions keeps your child interested and challenges them at the right level. It also builds both memory skills and higher-level thinking.

5. Let Them Be the Questioner

Encourage your child to come up with their own questions about the story.

• Example: “What would you like to ask about this part?” or “What are you wondering right now?”

• Why it works: When children ask their own questions, they take ownership of their learning. It boosts curiosity, creativity, and their ability to think about a text independently.

6. Show How You Think

Model the process of questioning by talking through your own thoughts while reading.

• Example: “I’m wondering why she looks sad, maybe something happened earlier?”

• Why it works: This makes your thinking process visible. Your child learns how to ask deeper questions and how to use clues from the text to explore possible answers.

7. Link Facts, Feelings, and Life

Create a chain of questions that starts with what happened in the story, moves to how it made them feel, and ends with a real-life connection.

• Example: “What happened? How did it make you feel? Does it remind you of something in your life?”

• Why it works: This approach turns a simple story into a conversation about emotions, experiences, and the world around them, helping them see reading as relevant to everyday life.

8. Give Kind, Supportive Feedback

Respond to your child’s answers in a way that keeps them confident and engaged, even if their response isn’t quite right.

• Example: “That’s an interesting thought, what makes you think that?” or “Let’s look back at the story to see if we can find more clues.”

• Why it works: Gentle feedback encourages your child to keep sharing ideas and teaches them that reading is about exploring possibilities, not just finding “the right answer.”

FunFox offers small group sessions with 3–6 students, so every child gets personal attention while learning to think deeper about stories.

To turn these strategies into everyday learning, follow these 8 simple steps for classroom application.

FunFox offers small group sessions with 3–6 students, so every child gets personal attention while learning to think deeper about stories.

Start your free trial now!

8 Steps to Apply Comprehension Questioning in the Classroom

When you use comprehension questioning with your students, you’re helping them do more than just read words on a page; you’re guiding them to think, connect ideas, and truly understand what they learn. Here’s how you can bring this approach to the classroom:

Step 1: Start With Different Types of Questions

Begin with simple, fact-based questions like who, what, and where. These help students get the basic details. Then, move toward deeper questions such as why and how, which encourage them to think about reasons, causes, and the bigger picture.

Step 2: Plan Your Questions Ahead

Think about the purpose of your questions before you ask them. You might start with broader questions to introduce the topic and spark curiosity. Then, as the discussion continues, shift to more focused questions that draw attention to key details or important moments in the text.

Step 3: Keep Curiosity Alive

Don’t be afraid to ask questions in the moment, especially if a student shows interest or if the conversation slows. These spontaneous questions keep the discussion fresh and encourage students to stay engaged.

Step 4: Use Question Circles

Organise your questions into three categories:

• Questions about facts in the text.

• Questions about feelings or personal reactions.

• Questions that connect the story to the wider world or other knowledge.

This helps students see the topic from different angles and think more creatively.

Step 5: Let Students Take the Lead

Encourage your students to come up with their own questions about the story or lesson. This not only builds confidence but also teaches them how to think critically and explore ideas on their own.

Step 6: Give Them Time to Think

After you ask a question, pause and let students gather their thoughts before answering. That quiet space shows you value their ideas and often leads to richer, more thoughtful responses.

Step 7: Make It Interactive

Try fun activities like a “hot seat” where one student answers questions while the rest of the class plays interviewer, or “thumbs up/thumbs down” to check for agreement or understanding quickly. These activities make learning active and enjoyable.

Step 8: Encourage Deeper Answers

When a student responds, go beyond a simple “yes” or “no.” Ask them to explain their thinking or consider a different perspective. This builds deeper understanding and helps students see there’s often more than one way to look at a question.

Once students are comfortable thinking deeply about stories, platforms like FunFox can help turn that curiosity into strong comprehension and confidence.

Boost Your Child’s Reading and Thinking Skills with FunFox

If you want your child to become a confident reader who thinks deeply about stories and information, FunFox can help. With programs like Readers Club and Writers Club, FunFox combines expert teaching and engaging activities to build skills for success across all subjects, aligned with the Australian curriculum and accessible worldwide.

Why Parents Choose FunFox:

• Ongoing Feedback: Built into every session to guide continuous improvement.

• Weekly 1-Hour Zoom Lessons: Learn from anywhere in the world, from the comfort of home.

• Dedicated Teachers: Highly trained educators following the proven FunFox Way.

• Small Group Sessions: 3–6 students for personalised attention and tailored activities.

• Never Miss a Class: Access to recorded lessons for review or catch-up.

• Interactive Learning Portal: Proprietary worksheets, games, and resources to reinforce learning.

• Creative Writing Support: The Writers Club encourages imagination and expression alongside reading.

Give your child the tools to read, understand, and express themselves with confidence. Start your free trial today and see the FunFox difference in action!

Conclusion

By now, you’ve seen how simple yet powerful comprehension questioning can be when used in everyday reading time. It’s not about testing your child; it’s about sparking curiosity, encouraging them to think beyond the words, and helping them build a real love for stories. 

If you want extra support and fresh ideas, FunFox’s Readers Club offers engaging, curriculum-aligned reading sessions for primary school kids. With interactive activities and caring teachers, your child can strengthen their comprehension skills while having fun with books.

Book your free trial and see your child’s reading confidence soar.

FAQs

1. When is the right time to ask questions?

You can ask questions before, during, and after reading a book together. Before reading, talk about what your child thinks might happen in the story. While reading, pause now and then to ask about what just happened or what they think could happen next. After reading, chat about the story or facts you just read.

2. What kind of questions work best?

Ask open-ended questions that start with phrases like “I wonder…” or “What do you think…?” These encourage your child to share their thoughts instead of giving short yes or no answers. For example, you could say, “I wonder why the character did that,” or “What do you think might happen next?”

3. How does questioning help my child?

Questioning keeps your child curious and engaged with the book. It encourages them to think more deeply about the story or information. It also gives you a better idea of what they understand and where they might need a little more help.

4. What if my child feels pressured or nervous?

Keep things light and playful. Let your child take turns asking you questions, too. You can even pretend to get something wrong so they can “correct” you. This turns questioning into a fun game instead of a test.

5. Can I use questioning for every kind of book?

Yes. Whether it’s a story, an informational book, or even a poem, you can still ask questions. For stories, focus on the characters, setting, and events. For informational books, ask what new facts surprised them or what they found most interesting.

6. Should I encourage my child to make predictions?

Absolutely. Guessing what might happen next is a fun way to use imagination and think ahead. After finishing the book, talk about whether their predictions were right or different from the actual story.

7. How can I show my child good questioning habits?

Lead by example. As you read, share your own thoughts out loud, wonder about the story, make predictions, or ask yourself questions. When they see you doing this, they’ll start doing it naturally too.