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Every baby is curious about the world around them. They love to poke, probe and grab as soon as they can move around. This curiosity only increases as they start to express it verbally. Learning to communicate with an adult means that your child can ask you interesting questions and draw your attention to the tiny details that you have started to overlook or took for granted. Why is the sky blue? Why does a car have wheels? Kids are full of questions, and before you know it, every statement you say is met with a “why.” This can get somewhat frustrating and irritating at times when you just want your toddler to do what they are told or don’t have the mental capacity to deal with the recurring question. But why do kids love asking why and what do you say to satiate their curiosity so that they comply? If you need the answers, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to know more!
The Parent’s Perspective
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For most parents, their kids asking them the question ‘why’ can elicit many different reactions depending on the situation. Sometimes this question can be endearing and exciting. It’s good to know that your child shows an interest in things outside of themselves and that they want more information about the world around them. This demonstrates their desire to learn and experience new things. The question of why can also help adults ponder on matters that have become fundamental knowledge to us. Nothing is an afterthought when you have a toddler who is amazed by everything. For example, when your little one asks you why they need to eat their veggies, you can discuss what vitamins are and why we need them.
But on the other hand, there are times when you can feel like your toddler is being disobedient and questioning every decision you make as an adult. Even a simple request you make to your kids can escalate into a situation where you go on explaining things that you never thought you’d have to. And this can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, Because, really, who knows the correct answer to why we must wear underwear or why mermaids aren’t real? There are days when your toddlers’ questions can go from being cute and just become annoying. And this can be the beginning of a power struggle.
Child’s Perspective
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Keep in mind that your child is not asking this question to frustrate you or make you feel inadequate. Your toddler just wants to know more and doesn’t understand when an answer is obvious. They are simply curious and want to engage in conversation. They also do this to test your boundaries and limits which in turn helps them learn more about interpersonal relationships. Remember that as their parent, you are their first teacher and therefore instrumental in teaching them about the world at large. Your answers and explanations don’t have to be long in order to satisfy their inquisitive nature either. All you need is to give them a little titbit and tell them that you can both schedule a longer conversation on the topic later. This way you won’t have to deal with your own personal little parrot saying “why” every two seconds while you are trying to get out the door.
How To Parent Through The “Why” Period
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If you are still racking your brain to think of ways to get your child to think for themselves and stop pestering you with ‘whys’ at the most inconvenient moments then you can always try asking your child what they think the answer is. This will ensure that your child thinks about the subject deeply and tries to apply reason and logic to find a solid answer. You can always help them along the way and give them hints. Make it into a game that will keep them occupied until you get a moment where you can fully explain the reason to them. Try to avoid statements like ”because I said so.” This will only discourage your child from learning and may keep them from applying their reasoning skills in the future. If you don’t know the answer, that’s okay. Simply tell your child that you don’t know and then look up the answer together. Being honest with your kids can lead to a learning opportunity for the both of you. This will also ensure that your kids build a strong bond with you as you explore the world together.
When you really think about it, your child asking you why things are the way they are isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, it can be a great way to build a stronger relationship with your kids and help foster a healthy relationship between them and the world.
