Incessant Questions - tips and strategies please

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

DS1 is a bright lively 4 yo. He is in school already as he is an Aug birthday (its a private school with small classes so I don't think he lacks stimulation there). He asks questions all the time. e.g. at the petrol station where does petrol come from? where does oil come from? How does petrol make the car go etc. etc. This is great some of the time but as soon as one question is answered the next one pops up. Sometimes I just have enough and ask him to stop. BTW I did answer his questions about petrol and the workings of an internal combustion engine. If a topic keeps coming up (at the moment its earthquakes because of the Chinese tragedy) we do go through it in more depth.
How do you cope with this? Do you just keep answering each question or do you put limits. DH says I should just ignore him sometimes but I want to nuture his lively curiosity - its just that sometimes it does my head in

[HonoriaGlossop]

yup, you just have to answer him IMO.

Sometimes if it's a subject we've been over before I say to DS "Why do you think that is?" and he'll answer his own question.

[AMumInScotland]

"I'm not sure, let's see if we can find a library book later on/tomorrow/at the weekend...."

[cameroonmama]

I take the same tack as Honoria and ask dd (6)to answer it herself, if its really tough I'll be honest and I'll say I don't know, if we remember we go and look it up somehow, those DK encyclopaedias for kids are brilliant, short explanations and good pictures. Sometimes I explain to her its not the right time to ask a question (eg when I am tackling a particularly difficult manoevure on a dodgy African highway) and she quickly shuts up. When I am really tired of it I suggest she goes and asks daddy

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

Thanks these are useful ideas. I will have to get him to answer his own questions a bit more. I will have a look at the DK encyclopaedias. I am happy to admit when I don't know something and we go and look it up or in the case of the more philosophical questions like where does God live etc. tell him nobody knows exactly.

[emiliadaniel]

You could be describing my DS! Only difference is mine is 8 months older. We use the internet a lot - especially to answer questions related to the news. The BBC website is very helpful and I let him watch Newsround on the CBBC page. But the best thing has happened in the last few months - he can now read well enough to give him a book and let him find out the answer for himself. It keeps him quiet for a few minutes and then he learns about all sorts of other things at the same time.
If he really does my head in, I distract him by asking him to do some writing - a list, message etc.

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

DS's reading is improving so I am hoping that in a little while I can get him to check things out for himself. I like the idea of distracting him with writing or maybe get him to draw what we are talking about.

[seeker]

I'm afraid this is what children do - it goes with the job!

[AMumInScotland]

Being able to read for themselves does make a massive difference, and books with plenty of diagrams help, so they can see how things work even before they can manage all the words for themselves. Other than that, you just have to do your best with the answers, but it's fine to say when it's a bad time!

[SmugColditz]

Go to the library a lot, and get lots of books, with lots of pictures with labels in them. I have an intensely curious child and sometimes he hammers me with questions until I feel like crying, so utter empathy from here.

[SmugColditz]

I also distract ds1 with workbooks it's not because I particularly want him to write, I just want him to stop Sstop STOPPPPPPP talking for a few minutes!

[Twiglett]

why is this Gifted and Talented?

[Hulababy]

Think the incessent questioning is just par for the course for almost every child at some stages in their development. For many it never stops, lol! Or at least it doesn't feel like it.

I would never just ignore a child's questions. I would answer all quetions to best of my abaility. However if they wanted to know more and I couldn't help I would suggest we looked it up together at some point at the library or online - it might not be right away however, depending on whether it was convienient or not.

If I really don't have the time at that moment I would tell him so, and explaint hat I was busy/otherwise engaged and hif he saves them up I will answer them later.

If he is learning to read/can read - get him a children's encyclopaedia or introduce him to google on the computer.

[SmugColditz]

Get a net nanny before you introduce google, because even a reception child may have heard the word "Tits" and it's phonetic.

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

Twiglett - my son has not been labelled gifted and talented as his school does not bother with this. However, I assumed that parents on the Gifted and Talented board might have had experience with children who are constant questioners. Judging by the very helpful responses I have received I have posted in the right place. Like many others who have posted on this board I am not sure that the Gifted and Talented label is entirely helpful as it refers to a Government scheme so I posted on the basis that this board is for parents of bright kids.

[SmugColditz]

Oh my ds1 isn't gifted and talented, but I do find he does a lot of the things gifted and talented children do. I didn't realise constant questioning was yet another of them - mine is just 5, also in reception (of a very mixed ability state primary school) but I do thinkit is par of the course for this age group. All the children have a fairly good line going in "Why"

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

I have no idea if my son is G&T after all he is only 4. However, like you say about your DS he does do some of the things you associate with G&T. I am sure all children question a lot but in comparison with his peers my son seems to be going through a slightly extreme stage, it may just be because he is quite verbally adept because we speak two languages at home. I was just looking for a few tips to save my sanity

[Twiglett]

well I could argue with you about this board being about parents with bright kids to be honest ... but I won't

I would say if you put it into development or parenting or even education you'd get far more response

I really should block this board .. it is incendiary to me

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

Twiglett maybe you are right. However, having seen the amount of negative posting that goes on whenever anyone posts anything that suggests (or is deemed to suggest) their child just might be a bit academically / intellectually advanced for their years I was a bit cautious. I thought I could post here and get some helpful replies (which I have)and without getting shot down in flames (which thankfully nobody has done).

[Litchick]

A trick I learnt from my mate who home eds her five kids ( how I worship at her motherly feet )is to make a note of all the Qs you don't know the answer to, or don't have the time to discuss and have a designated answer time.
Yesterday evening we dealt with
-What is an abortion
-Why do some animals hibernate and not others
-Where is Tintagel
You get the picture.