Wh questions for toddlers: how to teach what, where and who in English

Wh questions for toddlers are the little question words that start real conversations: what, where and who, and later why, when and how. Begin with “What’s that?” and “Where’s the ball?”, ask about things your child can see, and give the answer yourself when they’re not ready to answer yet.

Once your child knows some words, questions are how those words start going back and forth. A question invites your child to take a turn. Sometimes the turn is a word, sometimes a point, sometimes a big grin and a run to find the ball. Every one of those is an answer.

Here’s why questions come next, which question words to start with, how to ask so toddlers can answer, five-minute question games, questions for books and daily routines, questions in English and Spanish, and a few common mistakes to skip.

Wh questions for toddlers: the next step after words

First words name things. Questions turn those names into a little conversation. “What’s that?” “A dog!” “Where’s the dog going?” “Park!” In two questions, your child has said two words and taken two turns, and that’s what talking is made of.

Questions also show you what your child knows. When you ask “Where’s your nose?” and your child points to it, you learn they know the word, even if they don’t say it yet. Answering a question by pointing, looking or bringing something is a real answer, especially at the start.

And questions are everywhere at preschool. Teachers ask “What’s your name?”, “Where’s your backpack?”, “Who’s here today?” and “What color is it?” many times a day. A child who is used to simple questions in English feels more at home in the classroom. Our guide for children starting preschool without English has more of those classroom words.

Start with what and where

“What” and “where” are the easiest question words to start with, because the answers are simple and the things are right in front of you.

• “What’s that?” Point at something your child knows: a dog, a cup, a car. The answer is one word, the name of the thing.
• “Where’s the ball?” Your child can answer by pointing, looking or going to get it. No words needed at first, which makes “where” the easiest of all.
• “What does the cow say?” A sound is a perfect answer, and toddlers love making them: “Moo!”

Ask about things your child can see, touch or hear right now. “Where’s your cup?” works much better than “Where did we go yesterday?” for a young toddler, because the answer is right there in the room.

Body parts make a wonderful first “where” game: “Where’s your nose? Where are your toes?” The answers are always with you, and each one gets a happy “Yes! There it is!”

Who, and later why

“Who” comes next. It’s about people, and toddlers love talking about their people.

• “Who’s that?” Look at family photos together: “Who’s that? It’s Grandma!”
• “Who wants a snack?” The answer is “Me!”, and it might be the most popular answer in the world.
• “Who’s at the door?” A little mystery, with a happy answer: “It’s Daddy!”

“What’s he doing?” is another great question once your child knows some action words. The answer turns into a little sentence: “Running!” “Eating!” “Sleeping!”

“Why,” “when” and “how” are harder, because the answers need reasons, time or steps. Many 3- and 4-year-olds start asking “why?” all day long, which is a great sign of curiosity. You can answer with short, simple reasons, and now and then turn it around: “Why do you think the ice melted?” Our guide to English for 3-year-olds has more ideas for this busy, curious age.

How to ask so toddlers can answer

The way you ask makes a big difference. A few simple habits help your child answer more often:

• One question at a time. “What’s that? Is it a dog? What color is it? Where’s it going?” is a lot. Ask one, and wait.
• Wait a little longer. Count to five in your head after you ask. Many toddlers need a few seconds to find the word.
• Offer a choice. “Is it a cat or a dog?” puts the answer right in the question, so your child only needs to pick one.
• Answer it yourself if needed. “What’s that? It’s a bus!” Hearing you answer shows your child how the game works.
• Accept every kind of answer. A point, a sound or a word all count. Then add the full word: “Yes, the bus!”
• Add one more word. If your child says “bus,” you say “Big bus!” or “The bus is going!”

Pauses and choices work for all kinds of talking, not just questions. Our guide on how to get your toddler to repeat words has more tricks like these.

Question games for five minutes

Each of these games takes about five minutes and turns questions into play:

• Where’s Teddy? Hide a teddy somewhere easy, half under a pillow, and ask, “Where’s Teddy?” Your child finds it, and you cheer: “There he is!”
• Mystery bag. Put a few familiar toys in a bag. Your child reaches in, pulls one out, and you ask, “What is it?”
• Who’s that? Look at family photos and ask about each face. Add a little detail: “Who’s that? Grandpa! What’s Grandpa doing? He’s laughing!”
• Peekaboo questions. Hide your face: “Where’s Mommy?” Then pop out: “Here I am!”
• What does it say? Hold up toy animals or cars: “What does the duck say?” “What does the car say?” Sounds are great answers.
• What’s missing? For older toddlers: put three toys out, hide one while your child closes their eyes, and ask, “What’s missing?”

Play one game at a time, and stop while it’s still fun. A game that ends on a laugh is a game your child asks for again tomorrow.

Questions while reading a book

Picture books are full of easy questions, because the answers are right there in the pictures. As you read, stop now and then and ask:

• “Where’s the duck?” Your child points.
• “What’s that?” Your child names it, or you do.
• “Who’s hiding?” A little peekaboo inside the book.
• “What’s the bear doing?” For children who know some action words.
• “What happens next?” For older children who know the story.

Don’t ask on every page. Mix questions with comments, like “Wow, a big red bus!” and “Oh no, the cat is stuck!” A book should feel like a cozy time together, not a quiz. One or two questions per page is plenty, and some pages can just be enjoyed.

Favorite books are the best ones for questions. When your child knows the story by heart, they can answer more easily, and answering feels like a little victory.

Questions in daily routines

Your day already has plenty of natural questions in it. The trick is to ask the same simple questions at the same moments, so your child knows what’s coming:

• Getting dressed: “Where are your shoes?” “Which shirt, red or blue?”
• Meals: “What do you want, apple or banana?” “Who wants more?”
• Going out: “Where are we going? To the park!” “What do you see?”
• Bath time: “Where’s the duck?” “What’s in the water?”
• Bedtime: “Which book tonight?” “Who do we say night-night to?”

Routine questions are great because the answers are useful. When your child answers “Where are your shoes?” by bringing them, you’re out the door faster. For more short, everyday phrases, see our list of English phrases for toddlers.

Questions in English and Spanish

In a bilingual home, your child may hear questions in both languages. Here are the main question words side by side:

Your child may answer an English question in Spanish. That’s a great sign: it means they understood the question. Answer naturally and add the English word: “Sí, el perro. The dog! Where’s the dog going?”

In English, little ones often start with short versions like “Where ball?” or “What that?” before the full question. That’s a normal step. Simply say the full question back: “Where’s the ball? Let’s look!”

Common mistakes (and what to do instead)

• Asking only test questions. “What color is this?” when you both know the answer can start to feel like a quiz. Mix in real questions you don’t know the answer to: “What do you want to play?” “Which book tonight?”
• Too many questions in a row. A stream of questions can make a child go quiet. Make a few comments for every question: “Look, a big dog. He’s running. Where’s he going?”
• Not waiting long enough. If you ask and then answer right away, your child never gets a turn. Count to five first.
• Starting with “why.” “Why” questions are hard for young toddlers. Begin with “what” and “where,” and let “why” come later.
• Correcting the answer. If your child calls a horse a “dog,” say, “It looks like a dog! It’s a horse,” and keep going. No need for “No, that’s wrong.”
• Asking when your child is upset. A tired or upset toddler isn’t ready for questions. Comfort first, and save the games for later.

Where Tatako fits

Tatako’s short spoken lessons give your child the first words that questions are built on. The 369 first words and phrases in 72 lessons cover people, food, animals, colors, actions, little helper words and what the teacher says at preschool, in about five minutes a day with nothing to read.

Part of each lesson works a lot like a “where” question. Your child hears each word three times, with a pause to say it out loud. Next come two pictures, and your little one touches the one they hear, just like pointing to the ball when you ask where it is. Finally the picture comes back without the word, and your child gets to name it first. Afterward, a grown-up spends about two minutes marking how each word went (New, Repeat more, Understands or Can say), and the next lesson brings the shaky words back first.

There’s also a Spanish guide voice that explains what to do, which you can turn off once you don’t need it. Lessons run in the browser, and you sign in with Google. Learn more on the Tatako home page.

Questions parents ask

Which question words should a toddler learn first?

Start with “what” and “where.” They’re about things your child can see, and “where” can be answered just by pointing. “Who” comes next, often with family photos, and “why,” “when” and “how” come later.

What if my toddler answers with one word?

That’s a great answer. One word is exactly what most toddlers start with. Say it back with one more word: “Dog!” “Yes, a big dog!” That shows your child the next step without asking for it.

How can I help my toddler answer English questions?

Ask simple questions about things your child can see, offer choices like “cat or dog?”, and wait a few seconds for an answer. If they answer in Spanish, add the English word and keep the game going.

Should I wait for an answer or give it myself?

Both. Wait first, about five seconds, with a friendly face. If no answer comes, give it yourself, cheerfully: “It’s a bus!” Your child learns from hearing you answer, and they’ll join in when they’re ready.

Why does my toddler repeat my question instead of answering?

Many toddlers echo a question while they figure it out. It means they’re listening and working on the words. Answer it yourself, “Where’s the ball? There it is!”, so your child hears how the answer goes.

Questions turn first words into first conversations. Start with what and where, ask about things you can both see, wait a little and answer yourself when needed. And when you want a short, calm English lesson to grow the words your child needs to answer, start a Tatako lesson together.