Asking “Why?” is an important, but frustrating, phase of development.

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Why Now?

Your child is starting to understand cause and effect, and realizes that there are reasons for why almost everything happens. They want to know why!

• Asking “Why?” is an important skill that helps your child learn about how things work and why things happen. Answers to your child’s questions give them a greater understanding of how the world works.

• Asking “Why?” keeps you (the caregiver) paying attention. It brings you into the conversation and gets you thinking.

• Asking “Why?” teaches the “give-and-take” of conversation. “Why?” questions allow your child can keep the talking going.

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How To Answer the “Whys?”

• Don’t always rush in with an answer.

• Allow your child to think about the question themselves

• Ask the question back, “Why do you think?”

• Encourage your child to share their own ideas.

• Respond simply and with short answers.

• You’ll lose your child’s attention if your answer is too long.

• Don’t fall back answers like “that’s just the way it is.”

• Ask your child to think about possibilities.

• Help them to think about things differently.

• When you’re not sure of the answer, try asking for your child’s help.

• Teach your child how to have fun finding answers.

• Use the internet together to search for answers.

• Talk about people you know who might know the answer.

• Write down questions so you don’t forget and let your child see you write things down so they know you take their questions seriously.

• Ask your child to remember their question and remind you to get the answer as soon as possible.

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