Childhood is often marked with innocence and curiosity. At a recent family wedding, a cute kid, five years old, caught my attention with a constant stream of questions. “Why are you giving money to the bride and groom?”, “Why can’t I go inside the female washroom?”, “Why is there no moon in the sky today?”, “Why is the groom on the horse?” As endearing as these questions are, they can be exhausting for parents who are expected to provide age-appropriate answers with context. A study by Amazon Alexa revealed that 54 per cent of parents struggle to come up with spontaneous answers to their kid's questions. 60 per cent of parents admitted to being stumped seeing how their kids' simple questions had complex answers. Here are a few strategies that can facilitate your communication and quench the little one’s thirst for knowledge: Encourage asking questions Parents often juggle multiple tasks, leading to feelings of irritation or frustration when their kids seek attention with their questions. This can result in parents either getting angry or trying to distract their kids. It's important for parents to realise that while work can be overwhelming and time may be scarce, answering your child's questions is important. Their inquisitiveness promotes cognitive and social learning, and encouraging this is viral during their formative years. It is okay to not know everything Questions like "Why does the sun rise in the east?" or "Why can't we fly like birds?" can sound absurd, but it is not necessary to have answers for everything. With children, parents are born too, and as kids grow, parents do too. Do not beat yourself up if some questions they have make you feel clueless. It will give your kids an idea that it is normal not to know everything and that we can learn about things we don’t know about. Do not dismiss anything as silly If your child comes up with strange theories and answers, don’t immediately dismiss them. Instead, sit with them and discuss their ideas. Some of these theories can be appreciated as amusing creativity, while others can be gently corrected by presenting evidence. Strong reactions may make kids feel it’s disappointing to ask you questions on those topics. Nudge their imagination If your child feels shy or scared to respond directly, encourage them to use their imagination to answer questions. You can also pose hypothetical questions to spark their creativity. This often yields more insightful responses than the casual "I dont' know". Acknowledge and assess what your child needs to understand. Also Read: In a recent family gathering, it dawned on me that our cultures have long glorified the role of mothers in parenting, but the contributions of fathers often remain in the shadows. As a family therapist, I’ve observed the intricate dynamics of the father-child relationship. Fathers need to step in and help children as they transition into adolescence, especially considering how bumpy that process is. Continue reading here The fascination with junk food: A guide for parents to encourage their teens to eat healthy. Teens want to try all sorts of new foods – fancy cafes, different cuisines, everything, this can worry parents who want them to eat healthy meals. Continue reading A paediatrician-approved step-by-step guide when your child has a fever. Do not rely on home remedies or provide them with over-the-counter medication without a doctor’s prescription, stressed Dr Jagdish Kathwate, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician, Motherhood Hospital Kharadi Pune. Continue reading
