Today's Tip for Families

[En español]

07-12-2025

Help Your Child Learn to Find Answers

Does your child elementary schooler love to ask questions? Questions are an essential step in learning. Your child’s questions also offer opportunities to improve reading and research skills.

Even if you know the answers to your child's questions, don’t always supply them automatically. Instead, help your student learn how to locate the information.

Together, type your child’s question into an online search engine ("Why do zebras have stripes?"). But don't stop there. Help your child think of related key words to look up (animal markings, camouflage). Then, remind your child that using search engines and digital assistants isn’t the only way to find answers. Demonstrate how to scan book indexes and encyclopedias for key words, as well.

You may want to help your child narrow questions down so that the answers are not overwhelming—"What is the purpose of animal markings?" for example. Too much information can discourage young readers as easily as not enough information.

Brought to you by:

The School District of Lee County

[School Success Ideas for Families]

© 2025 The Parent Institute, a Division of PaperClip Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.