All parents have gone through this stage, I am sure. Your toddler asks a question, you give an answer and then he comes back with a “Why?” Else, your toddler asks for permission to do something, you say “No” and he asks “But why?”
What do you do when this happens? Do you simply say “Because I said so?” Or do you just keep silent and ignore your child? I think that best way to handle these situations would be to give your reasons – I am assuming you have good reasons behind your answer. Your child may be merely 3 or 4 but I am sure that he can understand reasoning – if presented in the right way. Here are some tips to answer the “whys” of your toddler.
Relate it to your child
When giving reasons, make sure that your child can relate to the answer. Explain to him how the situation affects him. For example, if you want him to take a nap, you can tell him that it’s because you want him to be full of energy at night because you are going to have dinner out.
Simple is best
Remember, he is a toddler. Keep your reasoning to the simplest terms possible.
Don’t hesitate to repeat yourself if necessary
Sometimes, toddlers need to hear it again and again. They have short attention spans and sometimes, they need time to process things. Be patient and if you need to, repeat your reason.
Remember, it is better to help your child understand that for every action, there is a consequence. It is good for him to know this early in life.
Originally posted on January 14, 2008 @ 10:06 am
