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Home › Articles › Parenting Preschoolers › Why?

Why?

Answering a Toddler's Favorite Question

By Mark Stackpole

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Dr. Sharif recommends that parents turn to other family members when in need of a little relief. "Pick up the phone and call Grandma, and let the child ask her what color her sky is, then call her uncle and get his view," she says. "Then compare the answers. Meanwhile, you are giving the child some control by showing him how to use the phone to answer questions."

So why is grass green? Why is the sky blue? Why do some toys float in the tub and some toys sink? Who cares? As it turns out, it doesn't really matter why. What matters is that you never miss the chance to share yourself with your children and talking with them, even if you don't know the answers to their questions. Who knows, you might even learn something.

What Toddlers Are Looking for ... and Why

Dr. Iman Sharif reminds parents that children are looking for information, contact with parents and some control over their world.

"Remember the egocentricity of the age," Dr. Sharif says. "A child may ask, 'Why does the moon follow me?' A parent may respond, 'Maybe the moon is trying to be your friend! Look, it's still there, do you see it? It's smiling!' This can help to foster emotional development, security and self-esteem. When the moon is gone, a simple explanation [of ] 'Maybe it went to sleep like you do' is more comprehensible and satisfying to a 3-year-old than a scientific explanation of the variation of the phases of the moon according to its rotation around the earth."

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