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Original poster

How to you deal with thousands of 'why' questions

14 replies

Luganote · 25/02/2022 09:19

Just that. My 4 yo asks loads of 'why' questions, all the time. And I really don't mind answering, it's just that a lot of them are: why is this (random) buy wearing a blue hat..why is this girl not peddling on her bike, why did she turn left now...why has this girl got brown eyes...why this person has a green coat..I find it really wearing after a while, I try to divert her to a different conversation but it comes back to this. I guess it's typical for this age?

OP posts:
treehousethunderstorm · 25/02/2022 09:25

I started answering questions with a question. 'Why do you think she has a blue hat?' Didn't always work, but encourages them to think about the question themselves rather than expect an instant answer to everything.

Thatsplentyjack · 25/02/2022 09:27

"I don't know, do you?" And repeat, and repeat, and repeat.

Babdoc · 25/02/2022 09:30

It’s perfectly reasonable to simply say that you don’t know, or turn it round and ask your DD what answer she can come up with.
It’s important not to discourage her from asking, as this is how she learns, however wearing it gets when she seems to be asking daft or pointless questions. It is also a chance to have conversations together, which is good for bonding and language/vocab development. It’s so sad to see mothers glued to their phones with a silent child walking alongside, who has given up trying to interact with mum.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 25/02/2022 09:36

Many versions of:

  • I'm not sure, what do you think?
  • hmm what a great question, do you think you can figure out the answer
  • that is an interesting topic, is there anything in your xxxxxx book that would help
  • it could be lots of reason, why do you think she's wearing yellow trousers?
  • you know, that's not something I've thought of before, you tell me why you think the sky is blue

Lapsing into the below when you get desperate

  • why do tornados form, hmm...what does YouTube say about that?
Original poster
Luganote · 25/02/2022 09:51

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo thank you.

She does ask clever questions too and we are always encouraging her to be inquisitive.
I guess it's her way of making small talk, she is very confident and chatty usually. I don't want to put her off asking questions either but I do find it very tiring after a while. O

OP posts:
Original poster
Luganote · 25/02/2022 09:52

Thanks everyone x

OP posts:
Forestdweller11 · 25/02/2022 10:05

When things got really bad with the why questions we rationed ours to five at one go. Especially if we were trapped in a car or something..

DetailMouse · 25/02/2022 10:07

I used to say "what do you think?" The idea was to make them think about it rather than just keep on with the why, but they soon stopped asking. I'm not sure that was a good thing...

Mrsweasleysclock · 25/02/2022 10:10

I try and answer until I genuinely don't know and then just say I'm not sure.

CatOfTheLand · 25/02/2022 10:22

When I'm asked actually interesting questions eg. Why is the sky blue, I say "that's a great question!" as enthusiastically as I can before replying to try to at least get some more quality questions asked!

BirdOnTheWire · 25/02/2022 10:28

Mine are adults now but DS2 tried the patience of a saint. He never stopped saying why from age 2 to 5.
I came to the conclusion that what he really meant was " talk to me".
It doesn't matter if it's a pointless question, just launch into an explanation of something. Anything. It's how they learn.

ivykaty44 · 25/02/2022 10:31

How could you find out?
Why do you think? Do have a think about it
Shall we try and find out together?

BessAndCress · 25/02/2022 10:33

Yeah, I think a lot of it is their attempt at small talk. I get a lot of "Why is he wearing a blue hat" type questions too, and I realised that they're actually just making an observation. So I respond with mundane chat: "Yes, he is wearing a blue hat, isn't he? I'd call it light blue, wouldn't you? I expect he's a bit chilly and he wants to keep his head warm. I can see other people wearing hats too, can you?" Etc.

upinaballoon · 25/02/2022 10:59

@Babdoc

It’s perfectly reasonable to simply say that you don’t know, or turn it round and ask your DD what answer she can come up with. It’s important not to discourage her from asking, as this is how she learns, however wearing it gets when she seems to be asking daft or pointless questions. It is also a chance to have conversations together, which is good for bonding and language/vocab development. It’s so sad to see mothers glued to their phones with a silent child walking alongside, who has given up trying to interact with mum.
Exactly. It's good for the vocabulary and the reading-readiness and the reading age in the future. Thank goodness for some parents who actually interact with their children. No school can do wonders with a child at 5 if the parents have simply ignored the child or dismissed it roughly for the first years. Sometimes I wonder why people have children and it's heartening to find a thread where there is obviously some patience and nurturing going on. Why isn't this table made of soot?
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