Adults often answer too quickly because we want to be helpful. A curious reading culture makes room for ‘I wonder’ and ‘How could we find out?’ Sometimes the best response is to return to the image, compare evidence or plan a small real-world investigation together.
Protect the question
- Wait five seconds before answering.
- Ask what the child noticed that prompted the question.
- Collect two possible explanations.
- Choose one safe way to investigate further.
One question that matters
What if I do not know the answer?
Say so openly. Modelling uncertainty and a trustworthy search process teaches more than pretending to know. Curiosity includes learning how knowledge is built.
