How to Handle Your Child’s Questions
Lately, my son has been driving me crazy with his endless questions. There's never a let-up. If I answer one question, it only leads to another. Here's how the conversation usually goes:
"Mommy, where does rain come from?"
"From the water in the clouds."
"But how did the water get in the clouds?"
"From the moisture in the air."
"What's moisture?"
And on and on it goes. I'm glad he's curious, but sometimes I find myself becoming very irritated. Help!
No Need to Answer Every Question
It can indeed be irritating to feel you have to come up with a clear and simple answer to all the questions a child poses - especially when you're rushed or busy. It might be helpful to realize that not every question requires an instant answer. Very often when the child asks a question it's because he's already been thinking about the answer and would like an opportunity to explore his own thoughts before hearing what you have to say.
Give Children Time to Think
Therefore, any of the following responses can take the pressure off you to be the "answer person" and offer a child a chance to explore his own ideas:
"That's such an interesting question."
"What do you think?"
"Where does rain come from?"
"You wonder about that."
"Let's look it up."
Suggest Creative Outlets for Inquiring Minds
To further credit and encourage curiosity about his world, you might suggest that he make up his own book of questions. You can say, "There are so many things you wonder about. Let's write some of them down. It can be Jeffrey's Book of Questions. If you like, you can even draw pictures along with your answers."
It may help to remember that almost every advance in human knowledge came about because someone asked a question and was willing to put time, thought, and effort into finding an answer.
Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish are best-selling authors of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, Siblings Without Rivalry, and other parenting books. To learn more about them, go to http://www.fabermazlish.com.
