Why Three Year Olds Ask Why - A Lot

posted 11/10/20 -- Most parents of a three-year-old will tell you that his or her favorite word is “Why?”

While it can be exasperating to hear it asked multiple times a day, remember that your child is trying to make sense of the world and asking “why?” shows an interest in doing just that.

As much as we want to our children to think logically, they simply aren’t at that stage of development yet.

According to Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist who is well known for his theory of cognitive stages in children, the logic of a three-year-old is based only on his own knowledge of the world so far. In other words, there has not been enough time or experience to understand logic or reasoning.

Right now, one of the best things you can do is answer those “why” questions with a question of your own: “What do you think?”

Take the time to listen to their understanding of the world, acknowledge it, and then offer up the correct answer. This approach will help your child learn and understand new vocabulary as well as build logical thinking skills.

Remember, the “why” stage is a normal part of development. The more we nurture it, the better we will build those important thinking and reasoning skills.