(The first thing that went through my mind was, how do I start this post? Great question.)
My children have taught me, or retaught me, that questions are innate; the past two years have been filled with the question why.
About everything.
"It's time for dinner, please come to the table."
"Why?"
"Because it's time to eat."
"Why?"
"Because we're hungry."
"Why?"
"Because our bodies need calories to live."
"Why?"
"Because that's the way God made us."
The last phrase is used at the end of many "why" sessions. However, I do believe it's important to answer as fully as possible any question my children ask. Why? Because they really do want to know the answer, and they're learning language every time they hear their mom and I talk.
It's infuriating at 9:30pm, when bedtime is past and taunting us, to answer so many questions - especially in stereo - but we do our best. People look at us with big eyes when our 4 year old uses words like actually and perhaps (correctly), but when a child is simply talked to and his questions are taken seriously, his sponge is filled to overflowing.
And the more those questions are answered, the more likely they won't stop (sigh). In fact, they double.
If the questions stop, the learning stops. Curiosity fuels learning, and the fruit of curiosity is revealed through questions. Many of my 7th grade students aren't curious anymore; learning has become a sort of job, and school is a social club. Yet the few who have had their questions answered - and you can see it in their eyes when I answer their questions during class - continue to ask because they have tasted learning, and it tastes good.
Don't shoot a child's why down or try to stop it, answer it plainly; if you ignore the why, or refuse to answer, you'll find yourself wondering why (!) it stopped when they are adolescents or adults.
And you: keep asking! About everything!
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6 comments:
There was once a tv show called Playbus and my favourite stop was the Why Bird Stop lol.
One of the things that annoys me most about parents is they don't give answers and so kids stop asking questions. Then they just don't know how to find answers. Great post.
My nephew was born before we had kids and one day we were in the car while he asked question after question.
I turned to my s-i-l and asked, "Does this drive you crazy?"
At her puzzled looked I realized that mothers just adapt to the questions over time - at least that's what happened to me.
Yeah, I'd be more worried about the kid who stopped asking questions.
I use the answer "that's the way God made us" ALL THE TIME. My 6yo son still asks questions 24/7, and sometimes there really is no other answer.
I believe they quit asking when they are teenagers, which is also a time when they finally realize parents are human...and if we've answered their questions well along the way, they love us all the more for it:)
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