The general rule of thumb in structuring questions for children is to speak like Hemingway wrote simple, direct, and short sentences. He bought the blacksmith shop from old man Horton. Jim was short and dark with big mustaches and big hands. He was a good horseshoer and did not look much like a blacksmith even with his leather apron on. Old, short, dark, big, and good not aged, diminutive, swarthy, immense, and proficient.
Hypothetical questions are very useful in clinical settings with children who are reluctant to talk.
Remember what happened before this. When you have called a child witness and she is being cross examined, be sure the child knows that it is acceptable to say that she doesn t know. Make sure that the questioner asks one question at a time. Children will usually try to answer a question even if they don t understand it, and are very reluctant to tell an adult that they failed to comprehend the question. They may become confused when a question is repeated they wonder about the acceptability of their initial response.