Dealing with an Inquisitive Child

Remember the good old days? You couldn't wait for your child to start talking and you were so proud when s/he did. Then you realized that once he started talking, he never stopped. Not only does he talk constantly, he is full of never-ending questions. "Why is the sky blue?" "Why is the grass green?" "Why do birds fly?" "Why can't people fly?" His curiosity was cute and adorable in the beginning, but before long the cuteness began to wear off and you started to get annoyed. And as a single parent with limited time, you might find yourself asking the question, "Does it ever end?"

The questions will taper off eventually. Until then, take solace in the fact that most talkative children are intelligent, social extroverts that are eager to learn. Young children are naturally curious about their environment. They want to know how the world works and why. They learn by asking questions and exploring their surroundings. Children are very observant. They also learn from watching their parents and other people. They turn to their parents for answers when they want to know something. Asking questions is also a way for children to get their parents attention and engage them in conversation.

Your child is not trying to drive you crazy. He or she is just trying to learn. Some children just want to know everything. Try to redirect your child by asking what he thinks when he is asking you questions. Say, "What do you think the answer to that question is?" Asking your child what he thinks will cause him to pause for a moment and ponder the answer. This will help deflect him momentarily from asking you further questions... hopefully. Try to refrain from telling your child to be quiet even if he has your nerves so frazzled that you just want to scream "Shut up!" Telling your child to stop talking or stop asking questions may make him feel insecure. He may fear asking questions even when he should. Telling a child to be quiet doesn't always work anyway. Some children will just talk louder and faster to make sure they are heard and get to finish what they want to say. Use positive methods to distract and redirect his attention.

Even if your child asks questions non-stop, try to answer them to the best of your ability without getting too frustrated. When kids ask questions you don't have answers for, simply tell him you don't know. That way you teach your child it is best to be honest and that no one knows everything, even parents. You can also tell your child that you don't know the answer, but you will try to help him find out. Redirect your questioning child by playing a game, taking a break or practicing quiet time.

Help your child develop self-control and good communication skills. Be patient. It won't happen in a day. Teach her to listen while others are speaking and that there are just some questions that don't have answers, or at least answers that we haven't discovered yet. Be sure to show your child plenty of attention so that she doesn't feel the need to talk over you to get your attention. Be glad that your child is inquisitive, creative and eager to learn. As s/he learns more on her own, they will question you less.