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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.

Do most children go through the "why?" stage?

17 replies

MisterMaker · 23/01/2009 23:38

Just out of interest

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Hulababy · 23/01/2009 23:47

IME - yes

RGPargy · 23/01/2009 23:50

Good grief, yes!!!!

thatsnotmymonster · 24/01/2009 00:07

Yes but it can be at very different ages. My ds has always been a brilliant talker and I thought I had got away with it but now at nearly 4 he does it all the time but he asks really complicated why questions and expects complicated answers.

As a result my 2.5yo dd1 is going through the why stage now too.

No doubt it will be my 9mo's first word

Loopymumsy · 24/01/2009 10:25

This reply has been deleted

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Gorionine · 24/01/2009 10:27

Oh yes, and the phase comes back now and again!

keels26 · 24/01/2009 13:21

Why? Only joking, my ds is 8 and why is still a very used word in my house. Although now it also comes from me, for example "Why did you do that?", "Why cant you just behave yourself?" etc. Prepare yourself for many years full of whys!

Bink · 24/01/2009 13:48

My older one didn't, really, and in hindsight it was a bit of a signal - the Whys aren't just about getting information (as you of course know) but about practising the back-and-forth of conversation - and that ds didn't was an indication of him not being wholly interested (ie, not to the normal extent) in other people & communication.

He did something else, though, which was entirely to do with information and we've always liked, which is the "Is that because [ds's current theory]?" - but that isn't the same thing developmentally.

So, though it can be exhausting, I'd encourage the Whys

wotulookinat · 24/01/2009 13:58

DS is 2 and 3 months and repeatedly says 'who's that?' He usually knows the answers (especaiily where Thomas trains are concerned!) and will say 'no' if you get the wrong name

MisterMaker · 24/01/2009 14:19

My son is 3 and doesn't do this yet. I'm sure it won't be long until he does and then he'll drive me around the bend! He does ask me lots of questions, just not the why!! Thank you for all your replies.

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sunandmoon · 24/01/2009 16:42

MisterMarker, our DD didn't ask any "why" questions until now at 3 1/2 yrs old... one of the greatest one was just before Christmas was "what are these called?" the reply was "telephone lines" the next question was "why don't penguins stand on telephone lines??"... and the why question has really become quite fun in our household!!!

MisterMaker · 24/01/2009 16:59

thx sunandmoon. My ds has just turned 3 and was a late talker but doing really well now. I guess I still worry a bit.

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ThingOne · 24/01/2009 17:18

Why?

It never ends. I'm 42 and DH is 44 .

Horton · 24/01/2009 17:39

My most used phrase at the moment is "Why do you think?" Or "Who do you think it is?"

DD is 2.4.

Why don't penguins stand on telephone lines is a fab question!

LolaLadybird · 24/01/2009 22:03

Oh god - I think the 'why' thing could be used as an effective means of torture - it drives me round the bend! DD (3.5) went through a phase a while back and every now and then it pops up again. I don't mind when it's genuine curiosity but it gets to the point where I think she just answers every response of mine with another 'why'.

In the end, I just say 'because' and leave it at that (I am seriously turning into my mother!).

Gorionine · 25/01/2009 08:28

Yesterday we woke up to "why do I have ears?" and "why do animals fight?" to both of which the answer was far too long to figure on MN...

tigermeow · 25/01/2009 11:50

My DD is nearly 4 and has never done the 'why' stage. She does ask rather a lot of complex questions though.

womblingfree · 26/01/2009 23:54

A colleague gave me a great tip for this - when they ask, just reply:

"Because yes" worked a treat with my DD when she was 2-3

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