“WH” Questions?

Answering WH-questions—who, what, where, when, why, and how—is a foundational language skill that supports classroom learning, conversations, and comprehension. For some children, especially those with language delays or learning differences, answering these questions can be challenging and frustrating.

Understanding when children typically acquire WH-question skills and knowing how to support them effectivelycan make a big difference for both therapists and caregivers.

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What Are WH-Questions and Why Are They Important?

WH-questions help children:

• Demonstrate understanding of spoken language
  
• Participate in conversations
  
• Comprehend stories and classroom instruction
  
• Organize thoughts and express ideas clearly
  

Difficulty answering WH-questions may affect:

• Reading comprehension
  
• Following directions
  
• Academic performance
  
• Social interactions
  

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Typical Age Ranges for WH-Question Development

Every child develops at their own pace, but here are general developmental expectations:

Ages 2–3

• What and Where
  
• Questions related to familiar objects and routines
  
  • “What is this?”
    
  • “Where is your shoe?”
    

Ages 3–4

• Who and What
  
• Answering questions about people and actions
  
  • “Who is eating?”
    
  • “What is he doing?”
    

Ages 4–5

• Where and When
  
• Responding to questions involving location and basic time concepts
  
  • “Where do you sleep?”
    
  • “When do we eat breakfast?”
    

Ages 5–6

• Why and How
  
• These require reasoning, cause-and-effect, and verbal explanation
  
  • “Why do we wear coats?”
    
  • “How did that happen?”
    

Important: Children may understand a question before they can verbally answer it. Expressive language demands are often the biggest hurdle.

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Signs a Child May Need Support with WH-Questions

A child might benefit from targeted support if they:

• Answer incorrectly or guess
  
• Repeat part of the question instead of answering
  
• Respond with unrelated information
  
• Say “I don’t know” frequently
  
• Struggle more with why and how questions
  

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Tips & Tricks to Help Children Answer WH-Questions

1️⃣ Start with Visuals

Pictures reduce language load and provide context. Use photos, illustrations, or real objects to support understanding.

Tip: Ask questions about what the child can see before moving to abstract questions.

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2️⃣ Teach One Question Type at a Time

Mixing WH-questions can be confusing. Focus on one type until the child shows success.

Example:

• Target only “where” questions for a session
  
• Use the same sentence structure repeatedly
  

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3️⃣ Use Sentence Starters

Sentence starters help children organize their responses.

Examples:

• “He is…”
  
• “She went to…”
  
• “Because…”
  

This is especially helpful for why and how questions.

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4️⃣ Model the Answer First

If a child struggles, model the correct answer, then ask them to repeat or try a similar question.

Example:

• Adult: “Why do we wear shoes? We wear shoes to protect our feet.”
  
• Child: “Why do we wear a helmet?”
  

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5️⃣ Make It Functional

Ask WH-questions during everyday activities:

• Reading books
  
• Playing games
  
• Cooking
  
• Watching short videos
  

Real-life contexts improve generalization and carryover.

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6️⃣ Scaffold, Don’t Test

Therapy should feel supportive—not like a quiz.

Use:

• Choices (“Is it because it’s raining or because it’s hot?”)
  
• Visual cues
  
• Gentle prompts
  

Gradually reduce support as skills improve.

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Supporting WH-Questions at Home and in Therapy

Consistency is key. Children benefit most when:

• Therapists and caregivers use similar strategies
  
• Language expectations are appropriate for the child’s age
  
• Practice happens in meaningful, low-pressure situations
  

Well-designed worksheets, visuals, and activities can make WH-question practice engaging, effective, and stress-free.

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Looking for WH-Question Resources?

At SpEdSources, we offer therapist-created speech and language resources designed to support:

• WH-question comprehension
  
• Expressive language
  
• Functional communication
  

Whether you’re a therapist, teacher, or parent, our goal is to provide practical tools you can use immediately.