Why?

[HotI]

Ok, so when does the "Why?" phase end? I am over it already.

"Please put that down" - "Why?"

"Stop hitting your brother" - "Why?"

urgh

[Mum2twoBoys]

Lol no idea but hugs.

[HotI]

"If you put your watch in the snap press, it will break." - "Why?"

[Ree*Ree]

Ugh, we have only just entered the WHY phase. Still a long ways to go yet!

[Santosha]

It's still around, but not 350 times a day at 3.5. Still incessant questions, she just mixes it up a bit with some when, what, where and who.

I sympathise. 'Why' almost broke me. I did notice that I got more 'why's from her when I hadn't been giving her enough attention. I think that she found that it was an easy way to engage me verbally as I always had to respond and there was always room for another why at the end. I found that when my head was really about to explode with the whys, if I gave her a really good, focused conversation or engaged her in a game, the stream would abate... for at least 10 minutes!

[wysiwyg]

I think it is a few years at least! but as they get a bit older they do tend to ask less about such ridiculous things. I assume they learn how to use it properly through trying it out alot and it seems alot is ALOT!

I know at 3.5 you are meant to reverse it and say thing like "Why do you think have to put on a seatbelt etc"

One of DD's friends says - "Stop saying Why! - I don't like Why" someone must say it to her and so she is repeating, but I really don't like it - although it is annoying to think of answers all the time - think is wrong to tell them to stop saying it.

I am a bit of a 'Why' adult though - so maybe that is why doesn't bother me. Is great to question things after all.

[LimeSlice]

Miss is 5 and the Why is still in full swing here! And about 6000 other questions a day.
I find the best way to earn yourself a reprieve is to give them a complicated answer, something they weren't expecting or an answer slightly out of their age-understanding. Makes them stop to actually think and process your answer. LOL Usually buys me a good 20 minutes.

[AndiE]

Yep, almost five year old DS1 is "why" every five minutes of every day. Just turned 3 DS2 has just started. After a while I usually end up saying "because I said so". Sigh ...

[MummyNaomi]

I started saying to DS "that's a good question" which would redirect the convo, but now if I ask him something - eg, where are your jocks, why are you naked? Etc - he replies, that's a good question Mummy"

Gah!!!!!

[LimeSlice]

I started saying to DS "that's a good question" which would redirect the convo, but now if I was him something - eg, where are your jocks, why are you naked? Etc - he replies, that's a good question Mummy"

Gah!!!!!

[wysiwyg]

I started saying to DS "that's a good question" which would redirect the convo, but now if I ask him something - eg, where are your jocks, why are you naked? Etc - he replies, that's a good question Mummy"

Gah!!!!!

Good one Bailey - I get from CJ -"Why do you think I'm naked" etc - now I need to find where I read to ask them why, and then what they suggest you do when they turn the tables on you - currently I just make up an answer - but sometimes that is followed by "Wrong"

[HotI]

I find the best way to earn yourself a reprieve is to give them a complicated answer, something they weren't expecting or an answer slightly out of their age-understanding. Makes them stop to actually think and process your answer. LOL Usually buys me a good 20 minutes.

I tried it! i was winding up the hose, and so DD stepped on it.

Me - Can you get off the hose, please Bub? I'm winding it up."
DD - "Why?"
Me (thinking) - "Because the weight of your body on the hose makes it hard for me to keep winding."
DD - "hmmm..."

It got her thinking, and saved me from another "why?" for a few minutes at least. Good practice for when i have to really start thinking about the answer to questions.

[Cally]

5 year old, off to school next year and we still get it a fair bit.