Does anyone answer *all* of their 3 year old's questions? - Page 2

[PatchChild]

There aren't enough hours in the day to answer all of DS's questions. He'll turn three later this month.

We did find something that helps. DS doesn't get to ask "why?" The only response that gets from us is "Why what?" If he wants an answer, he needs to ask a complete question. We've found that a lot of the time, why is just his way of saying he wants more conversation. Getting him to refine his questions makes him a better thinker, and a lot less irritating!

Me: We're going to the dentist.
DS: Why?
Me: Why what?
DS: Why are we going to the dentist?
Me: We're going to the dentist because I need to get my teeth cleaned.
DS: Why?
Me: Why what?
DS: Why... How will he clean your teeth?

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Oh, another version I forgot to add:

DS: Mama, there is a car in front of that house!
Me: Oh yeah, there it is!
DS: Mama, why is there a car in front of that house?
Me: Why do you think it is there?
DS: I don't know.

He makes these statements and then needs to turn them into a question using the exact same wording as in the statement. It makes me giggle when he sort of stumbles until he gets the exact same words. I think he is making sure I understand that the statement and the question are about the exact same thing.

[starlein26]

Originally Posted by ElliesMomma

yes, i do. agree: it's tiring!...

...but, you know what, i think of it as "money in the bank" as far as improving her intelligence. she is learning so much by asking why and questions about everything all day long. just think, what if you weren't here to answer all the questions... and they went unanswered, how much less she would know!...

I actually think their questions and comments are adorable, , albeit tiring some days, .

[Wittyone]

Thank goodness we didn't have much of the incessant "why's" but oh my goodness do we have the incessant questions!!!!! In our house it took the form of "and then what would happen?" - over, and over, and over again, in response to whatever we came up with. Unlike being able to cut off the why's because they are not gaining anymore info, this question can go on infinitely. I did find that if I made an honest effort to answer that he would accept an "I don't know" after a while. I tried to reserve that for when I truly did not know. He'd also go for "we'll have to look that up" and sometimes "well, what do you think?"

He just turned 4 and the questions are getting more complex and less repetitive, but no less frequent. My husband and I were just commenting today that we both sometimes ask him to "just be quiet for a few minutes, please." I tell him my brain is tired or my mouth is tired and can't talk anymore. It's true! In general I do like the questioning though, it just shows how much he is soaking up his world on a daily basis.

[Swandira]

I don't. Actually, I consider it my job to teach the kids to converse politely so that other people will be able to enjoy their company. No one likes being interrogated. Accordingly, I've taught them (which doesn't mean they always do it right!) that we don't just take in a conversation; we give too: that means no more than two questions in a row before we interject a comment. We practice this all the time.

I know it seems like a long time, but it gets way, way easier when they learn to read, because then you can say, "go look it up!" A huge part of what I teach my first-grader (we homeschool) is how to research things. Teach a man to fish, I say.

Nealy
mama to T, 7; L, 4; and O, 16 months

[mumsafari]

Yes i do :)

I'm not sure if anyone would believe me but apparently my little girl ask countless questions and i take all my time to answer her.

She's 5 now and she knows pretty much for her age because she has passion in learning by asking intelligent questions.

[cagirlintexas]

I watch my son 3 and another little boy who is almost 4 so I answer a ton of why questions. I have set certain rules for my own sanity. I will not answer the same question over and over again. For a while they would repeat each others questions. that was just to much. I do my best to turn them back on them or to get each other to answer the others questions. here is one we had recently.

Logan: Why are we stopped?
me: What color is the light?
Logan: red
me: what do we do at red lights?
Logan; we stop
me: Why are we stopped?
Logan: Because the light is red

Sometimes I think that at times the questions are his way to try and have a conversation with me. He just wants to talk to me.

Back to your orginal question no I don't answer all the why questions because I would go insane.

[MrsMike]

Why do you ask?

[MrsMike]

I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.

I NEVER thought I would tell a child to stop asking questions, but I have come very close. I agree with a pp who said she believes it her LOs way of trying to have a conversation with her.

I thought I was clever for a while by responding with "why do you think..." until this recent development:

DS: Mama, why is that man wearing a blue shirt?
ME: Why do YOU think he is wearing a blue shirt?
DS: NO, Mama! I asked you the question. You can't ask me. Only David can ask questions right now.

:::sigh:::

[SaoirseC]

Sometimes I simply tell my 3 year old daughter (nicely) that I'm tired of answering questions, and maybe she could ask some later. If she continues to ask questions, I just stay silent and ignore her. We don't always have the right to know, and sometimes I think that in and of itself is a very important thing to learn in life.

[Bug-a-Boo's Mama]

The first time yes. The four hundred and third time, no.

[Mummoth]

I used to answer questions with silly answers sometimes. Like, with your tire example, I might have said "I'm taking these giant donuts back to the store because they don't taste very good." and see where that went... sometimes they just want to talk, it doesn't really matter what about, and a story is fun for them (I may have inadvertently taught them how to lie, though )