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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

How do i deal with repetitive conversation in my 3 yr old?

14 replies

Mandymoo · 02/05/2006 19:58

DD is 3.4 yrs old. Today's issue is that sometimes (and its getting more and more frequent) she will ask a question to which i will reply. She then asks and asks it over and over again to the point where i feel like saying "STOP IT!!!!!" but obviously i dont.

I will give her an answer, she will ask "why?", i will give her another answer and she will then repeat the original question! It all sounds a bit picky i know, but sometimes it just drives me mad. Im also 39+3 weeks pregnant and perhaps my tolerance levels arent what they normally are but even so it would be nice to pick up some tips on how to handle this without discouraging her inquisitive nature.

Thanks X

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starlover · 02/05/2006 20:00

ask her!

dd: why is the sky blue?
you: because it's made of blue paint
dd: why is the sky blue?
you: why do YOU think the sky is blue?

get's them thinking about it, and prevents them from asking it over and over

Wordsmith · 02/05/2006 20:00

There's nothing you can do about it. I think its in the nature of kids to ask pointless questions endlessly. The reply seems irrelevant. All I can offer is, get used to it! (sorry!)

Wordsmith · 02/05/2006 20:01

OOh yes I use Starlover's trick as well. That didn't work till DS was bout 5.

Mercy · 02/05/2006 20:04

I've found that if you repeat what they have said, they don't say it again. It seems as though they get stuck in a loop and need you to confirm what they are saying. Or is it only younger children I'm thinking of ??

Original poster

Mandymoo · 02/05/2006 20:06

I actually did try asking her back but i think she was a bit young at the time so i will try that tip again.

I have to say that the questions she asks are actually quite insightful and relevant - its just sometimes i wish she would accept my first answer and be happy with that - but i guess i should encourage her to ask questions!!!!!!

Thanks X

OP posts:

MeAndMyBoy · 02/05/2006 20:07

I get the same here, and what you doing mummy? repeated endlessly. I do the what do you think the answer is and that helps, will try the repeating what they are asking to see if that helps. Ds is only 2.11 so think we have this for a Looooooong time to come.

busybusybee · 02/05/2006 20:10

ds is 4 and does this constantly all day long
It drives me crazy!

Blandmum · 02/05/2006 20:11

I refuse to answer 'Why?' If the kids wanted a real answer they had to ask a real question.

threebob · 02/05/2006 20:14

After you have answered the first time, the next say "why do you think". Ds will trot out the same answer I just gave - so at least I know he's listening!

If it continues write it on a piece of paper and say "we'll have to remember to ask the librarian/museum curator/nursery teacher/man at science museum/art gallery/man who drives tram/zookeeper next time we are there." This fosters a love of learning and the all important skill of seeking out and questioning experts.

Don't ignore it makes them more persistant!

threebob · 02/05/2006 20:15

Martionbishop - bob says "what because xxxx?" When I corrected him and said "you want to know why cakes rise?" he said "No, people don't like why - what because cakes rise mummy?"

Blandmum · 02/05/2006 20:25

I always answered a 'full sentence' question. Even the tricky ones like,, 'why is the shy blue', 'why to things fall', how does the electricity get down the wire types. In the end I think I sort of put them off asking , because they would have to listen to an answer!

sparklemagic · 02/05/2006 20:31

Hi mandymoo
I also get this with DS who is four in August. He is the chatterbox to end all chatterboxes though, so through practice has become extremely articulate for his age....so I asked HIM why he kept repeating the same question, and he said "Sometimes I don't understand and want you to tell me again", which I guess makes sense...the answers to us are extremely simple and basic but to them take a lot of thinking about, and I guess the kids just want to talk about it until they have really had a chance to THINK about it....if that makes sense.

Also sometimes I think they just want your attention, and don't have the conversational gambits to keep talking about different things, so just keep on to keep the attention flowing! So maybe if she's doing this, once you've answered a couple of times, ask her something "Who's the prettiest, snow white or cinderella?" so that you can keep talking but without the nut-driving repeated questions - hopefully!!!

kayzed · 02/05/2006 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

threebob · 02/05/2006 21:31

Yes I believe it's about learning the rules of conversation - so for each question they ask - ask one of your own.

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