Practising 'What' and 'Where' Questions With Your Child at Home

Every time you point and ask "What's that?" or "Where did it go?", you're handing your child a brilliant little puzzle — and the joy on their face when they answer is real learning in motion.

In short

You can build your child's what and where questions through everyday play, books and routines — naming objects ("what") and locations ("where") in short, playful turns. Start with what your child already enjoys, model the question and the answer together, then pause and let them try. A few minutes, many times a day, beats one long lesson.

Easy ways to practise at home

"What" questions — naming things

• During snack or play, hold up an object and ask, "What is this?" Wait, then answer warmly if they need help: "It's a banana!"
• Use picture books — point and ask, "What's the dog doing?" Celebrate any attempt.
• Play "feely bag": pop toys in a cloth bag, let your child pull one out and tell you what it is.

"Where" questions — finding places

• Hide a favourite toy and ask, "Where is teddy?" Model the answer with a position word: "Under the chair!"
• During dressing, ask, "Where do your shoes go?" — on the feet, in the cupboard.
• Sing action songs with places — "Where is thumbkin?" — so the question feels like a game, not a test.

Make it stick

• Keep turns short and joyful; follow your child's interest.
• Pause after asking — give a slow count of five before helping.
• Use gestures and pointing alongside words for younger or less verbal children.

These small, frequent moments help children link words to objects (what) and to places and prepositions (where) — the building blocks of understanding and answering questions. Learn more about the what and where question approach and how it grows comprehension.

When to ask for guidance

If your child finds these questions consistently hard well past the age peers manage them, isn't using gestures, or you simply have a quiet worry, a speech therapy check can help. Early support is gentle, play-based and effective.

The Pinnacle way

At Pinnacle Blooms Network we turn everyday moments like these into structured, joyful progress. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — never from a home activity or an online tool. With 25 million+ therapy sessions and 4.95 lakh+ families supported across 70+ centres, our therapists can tailor these techniques to your child.

Trusted sources

Guided by language-development guidance from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the CDC's developmental milestones, and the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren resources on talking and play.

Next step — book a free developmental check on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 to learn play-based activities matched to your child's stage.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.