These days my toddler has become a big question bank.
Whenever he comes across a new thing, he starts asking a question around it. A few days back, I was
making him remember animal’s name. He asked me “Animal kya karta hai (what does an animal do?)..” I was confused
for next two minutes. What I should answer him? There are many different kinds of
animals, and each of them does different
things, to which animal I should introduce him first? A few other questions that
made me scratch my head were “ AC kaise chalta
hai..?” “Metro track me kyu chalti hai..?” “Bird
me petrol kyu khatm ho gaya..?”
From the time kids first learn to talk, they constantly ask questions. They start out simple, easy questions with simple answers but
soon their questions start challenging their parents. Kids have voracious appetites for knowledge and an insatiable
curiosity for how the world works. So they keep on showing their curiosity in
the forms of queries. However, unless you have a doctorate in everything, their
questions might quickly outstrip what you're able to answer. Or
sometimes, you face the situation as I
faced that you have an answer but you are
confused whether your answer would be able to satisfy your little one’s inquisitiveness. And then, most of the times we parents go like “Ummm...”
Whether it’s a question that you don't want to answer that very moment
(For example: How babies born?) or you don’t have an answer to any such question
(For example: How AC gives cold air?), It can be stressful for kids if you don’t
answer then. They look for everything to their parents and when parents don’t
clear their doubts, kids lose faith in
them.
How to deal with questions of your curious kid :
- If you can answer, try not to brush your child off with a simple, "You'll learn about that when you're older,” Give them the benefit of the doubt and try to answer their questions to the best of your ability.
- If you have time, search with your kid, the answers which you don’t know. Don't take it as admitting a weakness. In fact, you are teaching your children the valuable skill of learning.
- And if you don’t have time and don’t have an answer, try something which can make him/her believe in nature and God. For example, God has made few things like this.
- Over answering could also make a problem. A 2 years old can’t fully understand how we breathe so, you have to make sure your answer should connect to your child.
- Sometimes "Don't worry about that, you are too little to understand." Can be the best reply. Not everything can be answered you know 😁
Please add your thoughts and
points that helped you in dealing with your toddler's
question.
I am yet to experience this phase but it is soon and thanks for sharing will help me hear up
ReplyDeleteGood luck :)
DeleteAsk me I am in this phase. N number of topics and N number of queries. Hushhhh :)
ReplyDeleteI can understand. Yesterday only I had to make my son understand how rain happens. It was difficult like hell :)
DeleteWell I am not yet in this phase, But i have read and heard from others that asking them back why do u think this is so is a good way to judge their thought process. And we can then provide them the insight to let them bring a proper conclusion to their thoughts. Hope it does work practically too. :)
ReplyDeleteNice thoughts :)
DeleteThank You for writing on this. I was in fact looking for this. Had no clue how to address their questions. But now i know. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you liked it Minakshi :)
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