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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

When do they start asking WHY all the time?

32 replies

Kathyate6mincepies · 14/12/2007 21:05

When does it start? We are discussing how we will deal with it. I think we will start off trying to give proper answers and end up saying whatever piece of nonsense will get them off our backs

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SquonkaClaus · 14/12/2007 21:07

as soon as they can string 3 words together

Dp always got the answers back to "because we love you" which I thought was lovely, so I carried it on.

She was happy when daddy said it. When I said it, she wanted to know why I love her?

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amytheearwaxbanisher · 14/12/2007 21:18

ds 2.3 ninethy percent of my day is spent answering why?what that?do my best to give good explainations

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Reamhar · 14/12/2007 21:24

You'll looking back on the days of "why" with fond memories when they start adding "but" in front of everything, especially when you need/want them to do something!!

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Kathyate6mincepies · 14/12/2007 21:25

LOL Squonk!

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Fennel · 14/12/2007 21:26

None of mine have had the "why" phase. One dd is too dreamy, one has always been too busy telling everyone why everything happens, and the 3rd, I'm not sure, maybe we just don't hear her over the cacophony.

or maybe my dds are just thick, but certainly we haven't had any persistent questioners.

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coldtits · 14/12/2007 21:26

As soon as they are able to string a sentence and it doesn't stop.

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coldtits · 14/12/2007 21:27

ds1 is the most persistent why-er the preschool had ever come across. He still whys now and he is nearly 5|!

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ELF1981 · 14/12/2007 21:28

DD started it at under two years. Why why why why
I always answered so many questions before giving "because I love you" which she never seemed to quesion!

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DoesntChristmasDragOn · 14/12/2007 21:29

BabyDragon is 22 months old and about 6 months into her "Wassat?" stage.

Wassat?
Car.
Wassat
Car.
Wassat?
It's still a car.
Wassat?
Tree.
Wassat?
Another car.
Wassat?
[sob]

Or there was DS1: Why do monkeys have legs?
Me: So they can walk.
DS1: Why do monkeys have legs so they can walk?
Me: [sob]

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TooTickyDoves · 14/12/2007 21:29

It leads to many circular conversations.

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camillathechicken · 14/12/2007 21:29

2 years 5 months and 2 weeks !! just started .. don;t remember how old DS was though.

DD also charmingly asks , 'what time is it?' like it means anything to her !!!

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DoesntChristmasDragOn · 14/12/2007 21:29

You will end up with "because I said so". Probably with a muttered expletive.

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Kathyate6mincepies · 14/12/2007 21:30

We've had sentences for over a year but no why. She can answer if you ask her why, though.

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Kathyate6mincepies · 14/12/2007 21:32

Oh yes, 'What time is it? Is it time for Balamory?' For some reason all watches and clocks are associated with Balamory.

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ELF1981 · 14/12/2007 21:33

DD last conversation with me after I clipped her in the car seat

"Why mummy?"
"To keep you safe"
"Why"
"So you'll be safe if there is an accident"
"Why"
"Because you'll be strapped in"
"Why"
"Because I strapped you in"
"Why"
"To keep you safe"
"Why"
"Because I love you"
"Okay."

and it starts all over again with another topic!

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beansprout · 14/12/2007 21:34

"Because it just is"

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coldtits · 14/12/2007 21:41

ds1, memorably, at the age of 3.5, once asked me 240 questions in 1 hour. i count all the whys as a question each, mind. but i was trying to supermarket shop at the sam time

my brain was on it's knees by the checkout.

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ELF1981 · 14/12/2007 21:42

pmsl - that has to be a record?!

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thegrowlygus · 14/12/2007 21:44

I am driven to distraction by the "why"s. Until he asked why I had sneezed when we were in the woods. I launched into a full on physiological explanation of hayfever at the end of which he just quietly said "oh".

But I like the "because I love you" idea. Although suspect it will only lead to "why do you love me?" shortly followed by the muttered expletive option

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coldtits · 14/12/2007 21:47

It was like having my cerebral cortex lashed gently but repeatedly with a liquorice whip.

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LadyOfTheHollyAndTheIvy · 14/12/2007 21:50

ds1 is 2.5 and has been asking 'why' for around 6 months.
it started with 'wassat?' and if i did not answer quickly enough he would bellow it which was most embarassing at times....

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Miaou · 14/12/2007 21:55

Oh blimey, around 2 to 2.5 in our house. Ds1 is currently experimenting with the word "why" but kind of rolling it around his tongue (in the manner of "waaaoooouuuyyyyyy.......?") rather than actually asking. I'm sure it won't be long though! Our dds were know as "the why-birds" for long enough. After they really got the hang of it, I would say "why what? Put it in a whole sentence." So we moved on from I'm-just-saying-it-so-you'll-keep-talking-to-me to I'm-saying-it-because-I-really-want-to-know - which was a relief I can tell you!

Dh does the whole long explanation. He still does it now, to the dds (who are 9 and 10). Sometimes they would have preferred a short answer, I can see it in their eyes

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funnypeCOOLYULEiar · 14/12/2007 21:56

dd started at 19 months. So I frequently have two simultaneous sets of whys

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ELF1981 · 14/12/2007 21:57

I dont mind the "why" in the public, it is better than when dd goes all wide eyed and seeing any sign of naughtiness when she shouts at me "naughty, you smack their bum" which is odd as I have NEVER smacked her bum!!

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LadyOfTheHollyAndTheIvy · 14/12/2007 22:04

'Wassat' used to embarrass me and I will tell you why...

I was in Hobbycraft one day, perusing the sewing patterns and DS1 was out of the buggy and kept going off to the model train aisle.
I though 'bugger it' I will go get him in a sec as as soon as I found what I was looking for, he was gone.
It is quite quiet in there and I could hear him in the distance asking someone 'Wassat?.....wassat?......wassat?' and he was being very patient and asking nicely but I could hear him losing his rag a little more every time he had to re-ask whoever it was he was asking.
With that, my walk broke into a jog, then a sprint and I arrived just in time to see DS crouched on the floor, pointing to a train, his other hand full of the leg of some blokes trousers, pulling them furiously to get his attention, then 'WAAAAAASSSAAAAAATTT!!?'
'A bloody train!!' the bloke replied, looking terribly frazzled. Everyone in a 2 mile radius had gathered to gawp.
I scooped DS up a bit quick, mumbling my apologies as I went and now every time he asks 'Wassatt?' or 'Why?' I answer quickly!