Why do kids ask so many questions | How to handle them

Why do trees have different shapes?” “Why do dogs and cats fight?” “Why do we have to go to school every day?” …………why do kids ask so many questions!

We bet you have struggled giving answers to all these types of questions when asked by your kids. 

As an adult, you should be ready to explain such inquiries as children’s minds often wander in curiosity. But why do kids ask so many “why”? Read ahead to find out.

In the toddler stage, kids will reenact a lot of what they see adults around them do. This is not because they want to annoy their parents, but because they are curious to know. 

At this age, they are constantly encountering new things. Kids have an urge to understand the explanation of why and how things are the way they are. You can say they seem to have caught a curiosity bug at this age and hence the showering of questions. 

There can be more reasons for why do kids ask so many questions. Below we have listed a few more; let’s discuss them.

why do kids ask so many questions

Curiosity to Know

As your child is growing each day, they realize that there are so many incredible things around them, and thus they keep showering questions to you in order to find out more about the world they inhabit. 

For a young child who is still coming to terms with the world, not understanding anything can be challenging and overwhelming for children, hence the curiosity. It can be exhausting and sometimes difficult to answer their questions, but they are just exploring their brain bandwidth to understand things. Giving them answers would help in their growth and brain development. 

It is considered the most significant time to enhance a child’s knowledge and inculcate curiosity to learn during the preschool and elementary school years. Children ask lesser questions as they grow up as they engage more in school. 

Attention Seekers

It is possible that you are busy with your work and not giving much attention to your child’s question or don’t understand what they are trying to ask. In such times, parents should take a short break from their work and talk to them. 

Kids ask questions from their parents to gain their attention towards them and interact. Once you give them your attention, they’ll be satisfied, and you can then explain the urgency of your work. 

Resistance

Sometimes when your child has a tiresome day, they might question out of frustration. In such times, a child is merely being defiant and asks questions like, “Why do I have to bath?”. 

While dealing with such questions, parents should not get angry and deal with patience. They should try explaining the reason why bathing is necessary and make their child feel less frustrated. Patience and persistence is the key to handle such situations.

Why do kids ask Repetitive Questions?

  • Children sometimes don’t understand the answer the first time, hence they ask it multiple times. 
  • Your kids want to test your patience.
  • Your answer is not enough, they want to know more about the question. 

This is a common concern for many parents that their child keeps asking the same question. Some parents worry that their little one is suffering from a disorder, or sometimes they just get annoyed with the repetitive questions. 

When our kids don’t figure out something by imitating adults or poking us, they try to find their resolution by directly asking us. They will ask specific questions to attain targeted information. 

If they don’t understand the provided information from the adults, children tend to ask it again. They will ask the same questions repeatedly until they solve the problem in their head and move on to something else. 

Next time when you think about why your child asks the same question over and over again, relax, and try to make them understand differently. This will solve both yours and your child’s misery.

How to Answer Kids Why Questions?

  • First, try to keep your calm with all these “whys”
  • Clarify questions to understand and make sure exactly what your child is asking. 
  • Try giving a simple and straightforward answer
  • Be honest if you don’t know exactly how to respond 
  • Don’t forget to follow up with your kid

It can often be quite confusing for parents with the rapid questionnaire their kids ask around all the time. Let’s briefly discuss some more ways. 

Give them answers

Sometimes it is best to give a straight answer to your kid’s questions. So, if your kid asks next time, “why should I wear a uniform?” answer it “because it shows discipline.” or you can elaborate in accordance to the question. 

If you successfully satisfy your child with the answer, chances are they won’t ask again. Sometimes some questions require a longer explanation. In such cases, try to elaborate on your answer in a way that your child understands completely. 

Turn the question around

You can turn the tables by questioning your child, why. For instance, if your child asks why do we give water to plants? You can turn the question back at your little one and ask to think about it and answer instead. 

This can be a good encouragement exercise for your kid. The young minds are incredibly imaginative, and so are their answers. You will enjoy how creative the imagination of your little one is. Keep a check on the tone you are using while asking them to figure out. Try to keep a calm tone and be excited to know what they think and not be annoyed. 

Come upfront that you don’t know

There should be no shame to tell your child honestly that you don’t know something. You can then read up on and explain to them in a more straightforward language that they understand. 

It is unnecessary to answer them immediately, but coming upfront that you don’t know but will find out and get back to them is crucial. This can be a way for you to brush up some general knowledge for yourself while feeling your child’s curiosity and natural desire to learn things. 

Research Together

Children sometimes ask questions that genuinely leave you stumped. They observe and analyze with a whole new perspective that is free from logic. Kids have a tremendous creative span more than us adults, and therefore, sometimes they ask questions that might challenge your knowledge. 

In order to handle such situations, it is best if you research with your little one. Seeing you looking up something that you don’t know will encourage them to do the same. 

You can sit together with the old school method of finding things with an encyclopedia or search over the internet. Nevertheless, the process of sitting and reading together fuels the inquisitiveness in children. This will also encourage your kid’s reading habits or might get them accustomed to books. 

Should We Encourage Curiosity? 

Curiosity in children is natural. Children in the early years of their life start experimenting with curiosity to explore everything around them and how they feel about things. Curiosity is what drives most of their early behavior. They are psyched to know how things are done and what is what. 

A curious mind makes them more observant and figure out things on their own or with help. As a parent, you sometimes might feel overwhelmed by their kid’s curiosity, but this helps them be observant. It plays a crucial role in how they grow up and their personality development. 

With curiosity, they think about surrounding things and hunt answers for themselves. It can also help enhance their language as they communicate to ask a question. Children will learn new names of new things they discover every day. 

Age & Curiosity 

0-2 Years 

Curiosity begins right from your child’s infant stage when they are trying to understand their own body and the outside world. Everything would be new to him, and every day would be a lesson. Therefore they try to explore as much as they are capable of. 

3-4 Years

In this age, children have an adequate understanding of themselves and their immediate surroundings. Now it is novel events and things that would make their curiosity back to work. 

This is the stage when parents usually think, why does my child always ask why? Children of this age would ask innovative questions or practically try new things. 

5-6 Years

This is an age when they start to think substantially – which you will notice from their questions. Your child might ask questions like where babies come from? Why do bees stink? The curiosity of this stage may even be laced with anxiety. 

How Can You Encourage Curiosity?

The digital era we live in has provided more access to information to our children than ever before. Though it comes with its own challenges, it also means kids can access extensive information about everything about the world like never before. 

Finding their way to the plethora of information that is available online can empower them with great knowledge. You make sure that they only have access to appropriate content. 

We hope that this blog was insightful enough for you now to question why my child is very curious? Because being curious is healthy and essential for the mental development of your child. Instead, it would help if you are worried when your kid is not asking questions. 

Children are very fragile, and it is vital to handle them with patience and love. Scolding them for asking too many questions might be bad for your child’s health. It would be best to give them proper attention and try to answer all of their questions. We hope that you are now a little less worried about why your kid asks too many questions.