The Why phase!!

[Chocaholic]

My DS, who is 3.5 years old has started the why phase. Trouble is, I don't know the answers to some of the why questions. For example, some of today's have been:

why is it windy?
why does it rain?
why is today called Sunday?

I can handle most of the questions (not very graciously after a while) but I am at a loss to answer the harder ones.

What did you say to your kids when they asked questions you couldn't answer? I don't want to say "because that's how it is" or something like that but I need something to give him as he gets upset when I can't give him an answer that satisfies him.

[Kazbah]

That's why so many people find comfort in the idea of God/s hun - it's a nice comforting all-encompassing answer. So if you're religious, feel free to give the "because God made it so" card, and follow up with the creation myth.

As to why is it sunday, google!

[Chocaholic]

Definitely not religious. DS has no idea who God is or might be.

DH is Catholic but never openly within the family as I have no interest in religion and he doesn't want me to be uncomfortable. I wouldn't mind if he discussed with the boys but I don't think he knows where to start.

[krysalyss]

That is what Google is for! I would just say 'good question, let's find out'. You can say let's find out later if you are busy at the time.

[Vixstar]

I feel your pain and the sapping of your energy.

my DS#1 last night - after watching the cars movie of kazillion times since it came out on DVD - asked me 5 million questions over dinner last night about the movie. At one stage I was soooo over talking and explaining things, sometimes the same thing over and over again that I asked him 'why are you asking me all these questions now after you have watched the movie loads of times'..........i didn't even get an answer to MY question!

xxxx

[sneakysparkle]

sometimes I turn it around and say "what do you think?"
I find that it helps me if I don't know the best way to answer, and it helps promote great thought and discussion

[kawazuki]

im with SS, i turn around and say well what do you think?

[Chocaholic]

Thanks ladies.

Some new tips to try.

[Persephone1]

I've never used this myself (I don't yet have to!) but I knew a lady who would write down all her son's questions and they would visit the library together once a week to see if they could find the answers. Obviously google is a more "instant" answer but sometimes the visit to the library and researching together would be nicer - and a bit less reliant on technology. Plus, google sometimes produces inaccurate information and can lead to expecting an instant response to everything.

I don't know what I'll do, but I liked the idea of the library visit.