WHY CHILDREN ASK QUESTIONS
You know all about questions if you have a four, five or six-year-old. And if you were keeping track in a day, you would have answered at least ten to twenty questions. Some time ago, when my son's 'WHY' questions just began, I wondered why he wanted to know why, and I began to ponder why children ask questions. While some reasons were obvious, some were not!
Then, one day, he asked me a question I knew he knew the answer to, which piqued my curiosity the more. I researched and came up with SIX reasons why children ask questions.
1. To Know About Things:
Children ask questions because they genuinely want to know more about everything around them. It's their way of unravelling the world's mysteries. Questions act as keys that unlock doors to knowledge. When they ask, they aren't prying; they're driven by a genuine thirst for learning and discovering new things. When we encourage their questions, we can help them become eager learners and knowledge seekers. When your child asks WHY, she genuinely wants to know why she must do that thing. Don't get angry because she wants to know. Tell her why. I once listened to someone who said that when your child asks WHY, they are not questioning your authority, and I agree. Oblige their questions because they genuinely want to know, and it doesn't take so much to convince them. When you nurture your child's curiosity, you strengthen their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
2. To Connect With You:
When my children ask me questions they know the answers to, I know they just want an opportunity for us to talk. Questions are like bridges that help children connect with others. They want to connect when they ask a question that has an obvious answer. So, the next time your child asks you something they already know about, remember they're simply trying to connect with you. Drop that phone or laptop, and have a heart-bonding conversation with them, or just play with them.
3. Explore the World:
Imagine being an explorer, embarking on a quest to uncover hidden treasures in the realm of curiosity. That's how children feel when they ask questions. They want to venture into the unknown, discover new things, and embark on exciting adventures in their minds. Questions serve as maps that guide them through uncharted territories. As parents, we need to nurture their sense of adventure and support them as they uncover the wonders of the world.
4. To Innovate New Things:
Every great innovation begins with a question. Do you know questions can ignite the flames of creativity in your children's minds? When they ask questions, they challenge the ordinary and imagine extraordinary possibilities. Don't be too quick to dismiss that seemingly weird or silly question. It might be the next big invention in your house. Cheer your children on as they ask their thought-provoking questions and help them unleash their creative potential. Your answer to their questions can be the key that unlocks their creativity.
5. To Express Themselves:
Questions are powerful tools for self-expression. When your children ask questions, they're not just curious; they're sharing their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. It's their way of saying, "Listen to me! I have something important to say!" By encouraging their questions, we empower them to express themselves confidently. As a parent, you should be their biggest supporter and help them harness the power of their voices.
6. To Clarify Issues:
Has your child ever asked a question that was pregnant with meaning? Sometimes, my children ask questions that I just know have a very long history. It might be a question that stems from a conversation with someone else somewhere else or a question that was birthed as a result of something they have seen somewhere. When they ask such questions, I probe deeper to know why they asked, and together, we detangle the knots that have formed in their minds. If you dismiss these kinds of questions, you will push your child to seek answers elsewhere, and those answers might do more harm than good!
The next time your child asks 'a silly' question, don't get all riled up or dismiss them. Don't be a curiosity killer. Answer them intelligently. In the next post in the 'Children and Questions' series, I will discuss some unintelligent answers parents give when children ask questions.
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