“Why? Why? But Why”
The wonderful “why” phase is a popular one in the toddler years, especially at the age of three. In our home we have entered this world of constant whys and even though it can be daunting at times…I love them!
Have I gone crazy? Not yet! 😉
The love for the “whys” is simple. It shows me that she is curious about the world around her. She is asking the question to learn and with her eagerness, I am seeing the world through her eyes which is so much more fun. There is nothing wrong with the “whys” and even though we may think its a way to torture us parents, it really isn’t. 🙂 However, I can’t deny that sometimes the “whys” can get under ones’ skin especially when you have given a very detailed answer where there is no other logical reason for a why. So I decided to do an experiment and I had the perfect toddler to try it with, my daughter Nikki.
For one full week I decided to answer every single why, even if the answer didn’t make any sense. For those who really know me, know that I usually have an answer to everything anyways so this should be my area of expertise. So off I went answering every why every time it was spoken. I noticed that after the fifth why Nikki just stopped and went on her merry way. Did I break the Nikki code?!
The next week I did the exact same thing and this time we were able to cut back on how many “whys” were asked but we were having longer (toddler) conversations. I noticed that I was taking more time to communicate with my daughter and explaining things to her in more detail that helped her feel satisfied. But what tugged at my heart strings was the extra sparkle in her eyes with how intrigued she was by all she was learning. That alone was worth all the “whys” millions of times a day.
Today, there are a few less “whys” but a lot more conversations and laughter as toddler talk is hilarious! So this “why” experiment became a bonding exercise for our family and one that we have loved doing.
So here are some tips on tackling the “whys”:
- Be Patient. This is a phase as most things are but if they continue to ask why then they are just eager to learn; embrace their curiosity.
- Answer. Try to really think about the why they are asking and give the best answer you can. Remember that at the age of three, you can say absolutely anything as they don’t know if it really is right.
- Be Prepared. You may have more whys to respond to after a strange answer that you may have given; therefore, be prepared to back it up. 😉
- Love It. Enjoy each why and embrace the conversation. Know that this experience can be fun and hilarious. Your child’s mind is exploring the wonders of the world around them and absorbing it all.
Above all, it really is an exciting phase and if you keep responding, the whys won’t be as frequent. They just want to feed their wonder and when you see it being fulfilled – it’s the best feeling in the world!
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
-Momma Braga
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YES! We have recently entered this stage. It’s great to have a reminder that this is just a phase. Although, I think I’ll appreciate this stage when I am looking at a teenager who thinks that I don’t know anything.
Great point! LOL! Thank you for taking the time to read! 🙂