Day137 · Ask. Listen. Keep their words.

Prepare

A peer/adult may choose to try or comment on the child’s model; no audience, disclosure, public sharing or compelled partner. Ask consent locally; a pretend visitor has no testimony. Self-use/preference is a complete alternative.

Invite and capture first

Let the child choose a question: “What would you like to do here?” or an own neutral question. Save it before offering an optional question example; avoid “You like mine, don’t you?”

Teach / model

After capture, show a fictional question pair in adult words: “Where would you put this?” asks for a choice; “The middle is best, isn’t it?” suggests an answer. This is fictional practice, not a real reply.

Make or direct

If someone actually agrees, ask the chosen question about the actual model. The adult can transcribe the exact reply privately and read it back. Child can choose whether to use that idea.

Try / choose

Separate a willing person’s actual movement from their words and the child’s interpretation. If no reply is given, record no reply; do not replace it with a puppet’s imagined answer.

Save and notice

Keep own question, willingness, actual action and faithful attributed words separately. A response from one person is not evidence every user benefits.

Three ways to join in

Short start: child asks an adult to read one question or communicates it through their usual support; no partner required.

Hands-on start: willing tester moves one broad marker in the model while the child watches or receives a faithful description.

Explore more: compare what a willing tester actually did with what they said, without deciding one must be wrong. Ask one further neutral question if welcome.