Journal
Questions to ask after a story at 4, 7 and 9
· For parents
Concrete questions for Meera, Tara and Kabir's ages. The child speaks. You do not run a comprehension test.
The question is how the child stays the thinker. If you supply the moral, you did the story for them. Ask one question. Wait. Their answer is the point, even if it is short or in the other language.
Around 4
Meera is 4, with Nani. Ask who was there, what colour something was, and where it happened. They can ask Minie the same kind of question by voice. Accept pointing. Accept one word. Do not ask how the character felt about a grown-up problem.
Around 7
Tara is 6, with Mum, and 7 is close enough for a reason. Ask why someone shared or waited, and what the child would have done. One new word is enough. If they want to argue that the story was unfair, let them. That argument is the thinking.
Around 9
Kabir is 9, with Papa. Ask what would change the ending, and ask them to explain a word to a younger sibling. Do not talk down. If they are bored, the story was too small, not the child. Ages 9 to 10 says when to stop pushing a tone they have outgrown. Hey Minie is for ages 3 to 10, not beyond.
We do not know the full plot of The Red Raincoat on this page, so the questions stay general on purpose. After you listen, use what you actually heard.