Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

[WhollyGhost]

is what I've been hearing from my nearly 3 year old for the past few weeks. It is really begining to get on my nerves. I've tried explaining to her that it is annoying, and ignoring the whys when she is plainly doing it to annoy.

Anyone got any better ideas?

Scroobious not Scoobious (must spell my nonsense correctly)

Well, maybe I am bizarre but I never minded the why phase with my children. I was glad they were curious about things and tried to give them age appropriate answers. My kids now have a really broad general knowledge. Embrace it and be glad you have a child who is interested in the world and knows how to ask questions.

jaynebxl, I suspect that the response depends on the intensity of the why phase, and the level of mischief involved

I do give age appropriate answers, but there comes a point where she is not so much listening as teasing me, probably at about the 30th why in succession

I find your post rather patronising

When DD was 3 (she is now 11) asked "why do ice cubes melt" DH gave her a whole science lecture about liquid,solid,gas and even drew little diagrams for her. At the time she took it all in and took great pleasure in telling anyone about it, she is now doing the same thing at school and just commented to the teacher that his diagrams were not as good as daddys and that she knew all of it as daddy had told her when she was little. Teacher made her explain to the whole class (some were not getting it) she stood up and told them all and drew diagrams, teacher was very impressed with her. He then asked her what else daddy had explained in great detail to her she said "nothing I stopped asking why after getting a long lecture"

They all just got the Dellilah song with me

It's a sign of intelligence. But I probably won't be saying that if and when my DD starts whying!!

I have a 'why' child. Some of her corkers are:- Mum, why do we move when we walk?, mum, how do you talk mermaid?, mum, why are hedgehogs spikey? (not such a weird question but it came completely out of the blue, sitting on a plane waiting for take-off). And one of her latest statements were "mum I know there are 3 different types of orange, a satsuma, an orange and a margerine". She makes me crack up and cry with laughter. She is a bright girl and a logical thinker, and she I know she has sat and thought about these random things, trying to make sense of the world.

dlady - I love those questions - v funny

jaynebxl - you have clearly never had a child who has been through a phase illustrated by the following examples:

We're getting up. WHY? Time to put your pants on. WHY? Come brush your teeth. WHY? I'm just putting my clothes on. Why? Would you like red or blue socks. WHY? Here's your warm milk. WHY?

This is the kind of thing the OP is talking about, not the genuinely curious questions which I'm sure everyone on this thread is delighted to answer sincerely!

I thought most children do this. I always answered if I knew the answer and if I didn't I said 'I don't know why'
Sometimes I would reply ' Why do YOU think ?'
We had lots of interesting and funny conversations as a result of the 'why' questions BUT - YES,.. it can get on your nerves after a hundred times in an hour !