Help!!! 2 Year Old Asking WHY Incessantly!

Because she's 2. I would ask my daughter back well why do think it is that way or just say I don't know sweetie. It will stop just try to be patient. Good luck

My son is 3 and he's been asking why constantly for a few weeks (learned it from somewhere). At first I started explaining to him and then I realized he doesn't want an an answer, he just likes asking why, so I just ignored it and he almost stopped. I don't think they know the full meaning of the question, just ignore it, it'll pass.

This is exactly where my son is now. I don't think there's really anything you can do, although the occasional "because I said so!" certainly isn't going to hurt her.

The one thing I did do is turn the why-ing into a little bit of a game; I told my son whenever he says why I get to kiss him. So now he'll just say it to get kisses. But I can say it also and he'll kiss me. It doesn't make it stop, but at least it's a little more fun than giving an actual answer, and he does giggle when he realizes how often he's saying it.

Good luck. My daughter did the same thing but instead of "why?" it was "what's that?" I'll actually take the "why?"

If I've already answered a "why" question, and they ask again, then my answer is "why do you think?" (nicely of course).

Even if its been a day since they asked the same question, I figure that way they have to remember why... and if they don't know of course I tell them again.

It seemed to help.
J.

especially on something you have told her numerous times - reply with "why do YOU think." it makes her stop and realize, oh yeah i already know this! and dear...sorry but day two...! my son is almost four and it hasn't stopped YET. i don't count on it stopping anytime soon. the key is to get her to think about questions before she asks. also "what did i tell you the other times you asked" also works. get her using her brain instead of just automatically asking "why why why" all the time without even thinking about it.

Our 3yo started asking why constantly about a year ago. I, too, realized it is normal development and didn't want to stiffel her curiosity. She also had good language skills early on, so we decided to make her use them. If she asked why about a new situation, we would gladly answer her question(s). But, if she asked why about something she already understood, we wouldn't answer her. Rather, we would ask "why do you think it/that/she/he/you,etc is?". This tactic worked really well. It gave her a chance to use her words and clarify her thinking, and we found out 9 times out of 10 she knew the reason. She was just wanting reassurance on her thoughts. If she didn't know, she would tell us, and we would explain. Now, a year later we find she doesn't ask why as often, but rather first offers a reason and then looks to us to confirm or correct her. Hope this helps.

You can tell when she really wants to know "why" and when it has turned into a game.
When my kids/grandkids did this, I would answer as long as I could tell they really wanted to know. After all, they are learning and deserve a response.
As soon as it became "nonsense", I would smile and say "I am tired of this game now. It's not fun for me anymore. Let's play something else." And then change the subject IMMEDIATELY.

I had the same thing with my little guy when he was around 2.5 y/o. He learned to ask the Why? question at school and liked that when he said the word - people all of a sudden started talking about something with a serious face :)

I think child this yound doesn't undersatnd the meaning and is not looking for any answers, just looking for some attention. Try keeping answers short, or asking the childs What do you think? Have a small discussion...

If a child really asks the question and wants to keep the communication going - you will see, and by all means, keep it up! If it is just a phase - you will realise soon enough :)

Good luck.

WHat also works is when you answer the why question, end with a "what" question. For example "Why do you like flowers? I like flowers becasue they have such pretty colors, what color is your favorite? (and if there are flowers around you and even follow that up by asking them to show you a flowere with that color!). It does not stifle their curiosity, they know you are listing to them and depending on the type of question you ask can get them pointed in the direction you want them to go and distract them from teh why's...

I agree with Amy M.'s answer below. If you have already given her an answer, try asking her why she thinks _________. Get down at her level, look her in the eye and really listen to her answer as often as you can. Then praise her when she gets an answer right and follow up with a hug or kiss. My kids are all teens now but I remember how easy it was to just answer the questions over and over again with my back turned to my child while I was busy doing dishes, etc. I think they do want to know "why" but more often it's a way to get some attention from mom.

This can also be used as a great discipline tool as your daughter gets older. Ask your daughter why she thinks doing _____________ is a bad idea or what could she do instead next time, or even better, ask your daughter what she would do in this situation if she were the parent (that often makes for interesting conversation!)

God Bless,
A.

Now is the time to grit your teeth, grin broadly, and repeat after me: "Congratulations! You're developing normally!" Then follow whatever pattern seems to work..personally, I like the one where you give long, extended answers with all kinds of details and experiments to every single "why" asked. I also love the one below where you get to kiss her every time she says it. It's a game--a lovely, wonderful, interactive game that always entertains for her, as well as giving her all kinds of new social understanding and bonding to Mommy. A frustrating, trying way to work your last nerve when you're trying to do something else for you...but you DID want to have a little kid. This is something you can get through, and I promise it doesn't last forever. Keep gritting your teeth, grinning broadly, and repeat after me... ;)

We have a rule (that I totally stole from my brother who runs a day camp) that if you say the same thing three times in a row we call it "noise" and it is noise that we do not like and must not ask/say whatever they just said.

My daughter also started the "WHY, WHAT, WHERE" questions around age 2, she is turning 4 in a week and she is still asking the questions. She also talks non-stop but the rule is when in the car mommy has to focus on driving so she has to talk to her stuff animal, read a book, color or whatever she has in the car with her that day.

It does get frustrating when you tell them something a hundred times but do not remember what you said or only parts of what you said. I just take a deep breath, ask her what she remember I said yesterday or whenever and sometimes have to tell her the answer again... the food: "why" because this is what is being served for the meal today, each day it may be something different but you have to at least try it and you are not getting anything else (or whatever your rule is). Let her know that there are rules and that they are rules to protect her, keep her health because you care about her. Something like that has always satisfied my daughter and her why question when it came to MUST rules.

If you don't know an answer to something let her know you can look it up on-line when you get home, or later when there is more time to explain the answer. The more you keep doing that the more the whining stops and becomes ok sounds good mommy. It does take time, for some kids months to understand the process and when it is appropriate to ask the questions and when it is just noise (they really do love to learn new things), while others it is just a new word and could care less about the answers. I would keep encouraging because it opens a huge world to your child (mine already knows about gravity, how to read, math and a million other things because I kept answering her questions the best I could). In the end they way you handle it may play a role how they look at school and the love for learning :)

Actually the fastest way I've ever come across to "end" the why stage is to answer. Fully and completely, including experiments and examples and questions of your own that help them figure some things out. Expect at least 15+ minutes for each why.

Sigh.

I LOVE the why stage.

But for some reason, it only ever lasts about 2 weeks.

I totally know the feeling. My sister-in-law and mother just informed me that they have never known of a child, at any age, who asks more questions than my son. I try my best to be patient and to know that he is probably a budding scientist. My best advice is to turn the question back on her. If she asks why she has to eat corn, ask her why she thinks she does. If she keeps asking, change the conversation to something else that is still related...like tell her that if you heat corn kernels it makes popcorn, or explain how corn grown on corn stalks. I find that this may still generate more questions, but at least they are different questions. Good luck! Oh, and it is okay to sometimes tell them that you don't know!!!

The only thing that worked for me was to answer back, "Why do you think?" It's pretty amazing to hear the answers they come back with. Sometimes I let her believe what she is saying and sometimes we'll discuss her answers in further detail. Like if she asks, "Why is the moon and the sun out at the same time?" I'll ask, "Why do you think they are out at the same time?" Her response was because the moon doesn't want to share with the sun. I'll say, "Maybe so. That's a very interesting thought. Maybe someday they will learn to share." And go on to the next discussion. But if the question was, "Why do I need to go to the bathroom before bed?" I'll ask the question back and her response is, "I don't know." Then we'll talk about why it's important. So, I think that you have to be flexible in how and when you respond. The important thing is to listen to them, guide them to the answer they are looking for, and also have fun with it at the same time. We are now in the stage where my daughter won't ask why, but "How do you know?" OMG...that's a whole other ball game. :) Good luck and I completely understand how frustrating it can be; hang in there!

Ditto to asking her why back. Not in an obnoxious way, but if she's asking because she really wants to know, it does help her to think for herself. I, too, have a very verbal child (just turned 3), and we've been doing the "why" game for sometime. I always said I would tell her what I could then when I got stumped, say, I don't know, that's a great question, let's look up the answer! I didn't expect most of the questions not to have a true answer (Why is that shirt blue? Because that's how it was designed. Why? I have no idea - can't look it up or ask the designer.) When those kinds of questions would pop up, I would say just that - I don't know, and it's too bad we can't ask anyone. Maybe it's because blue is the designer's favorite color. Or maybe it's because blue complements the orange logo on the shirt. What are some other reasons it could be blue? Then after we'd done that a few times, I would just say, I don't know, why do you think it's blue? She knew what I meant.
After that, I could tell if she was really interested or just being goofy if she wanted to speculate or just said I don't know or no, YOU tell me Mommy.

My son also went through this. I answered as much as I could. Trying to be patient and allow his curiosity also. After a while 1 of 3 things will work. 1) Ignore it. 2) Say that you don't know or aren't sure. 3) tell them 'just because'. lol. And at some point I have used all 3!
Don't worry, this stage usually goes pretty quickly. My son did it for a week or so. (non-stop of course!)

She's 2--that's her job! LOL

I used to just make stuff up!