What Questions
Teaching children to identify objects, actions, and attributes builds vocabulary, observation skills, and the foundation for all other WH questions.
What Are What Questions?
What questions ask children to identify or describe things — objects, actions, attributes, or functions. They are typically among the first WH questions children learn to answer.
- "What is this?"
- "What is the boy doing?"
- "What color is the car?"
These questions require children to observe and label what they see, hear, or experience. This builds the vocabulary foundation for more complex language.
When Do Children Learn What Questions?
What questions are typically the earliest WH questions children master, often beginning around age 2:
Ages 1-2
Children begin responding to "What's this?" by pointing or naming familiar objects.
Ages 2-3
Children can answer "What is [person] doing?" for visible actions and identify common objects by function.
Ages 3-4
Children answer questions about attributes (color, size, shape) and can describe what they see in pictures.
Ages 4-5
Children handle abstract "what" questions like "What happens next?" or "What do you think?"
Because "what" questions are foundational, they're often used as stepping stones to teach more complex WH questions.
Teaching What Questions
Start with objects
Begin with concrete items the child can see and touch. "What is this?" with toys, food, or household items.
Move to actions
"What is he doing?" questions help children build verb vocabulary and describe activities.
Add attributes
"What color/size/shape?" questions expand descriptive vocabulary and attention to detail.
Use picture books
Books provide rich opportunities to ask what questions about characters, objects, and events.
Connect to function
"What do we use this for?" helps children understand object purposes and builds conceptual knowledge.
Examples by Difficulty
Easier (labeling)
- What is this? (pointing to a ball)
- What is the girl eating?
- What color is the flower?
Medium (describing)
- What is happening in this picture?
- What does a doctor do?
- What do you need for brushing teeth?
Harder (inferring)
- What will happen next?
- What do you think she feels?
- What would you do if...?
Coming to Our App
We're expanding our WH Questions app to include "what" questions. These will follow the same engaging puzzle format that makes practicing feel like play.
Learn more about our Why app→