Children are naturally curious and it is normal for them to ask “why?” a countless amount of times a day. As they get older, the questions become harder to answer and in some cases can be quite embarrassing for the parent, especially if asked in a busy supermarket.
Here are four questions your big kid is likely to ask and four ways to answer them:
Where do babies come from?
This one can be awkward to answer as mums don’t want to overload their child with too much graphic information but don’t want to avoid the question or lie either. The best way to approach this is to be as honest as possible. Tell them it grows in the mummy’s tummy, and depending on their age, you don’t have to tell them how it got there.
Why is that person fat?
Kids are curious and are not being mean or nasty when they ask this question. It is simply an observation and they are looking for the reason why. How you react to their question is important so don’t scold them or tell them not to say that. Simply tell them people come in all shapes and sizes and never tell them it is down to bad diet choices or exercise. You don’t know why they are fat so don’t make assumptions.
What is that thing on that person’s face?
Birthmarks on a person’s face are obviously going to be intriguing to a young child so if they ask what it is, tell them. If the person with the birthmark heard, don’t make things more awkward by shushing your child. Be open and honest with your youngster and if you don’t know the answer tell them you aren’t sure.
Is that a man or a woman?
This may come up more than once so be prepared for it. If you’re not sure of the answer tell them. However, try to give them a solid man or woman answer and tell them that some men have long hair and some women have short hair.
It is important that you encourage questions in your child and are as open and honest as possible answering them. Don’t dismiss a kid's question and try to ensure an atmosphere where they trust you enough to ask things.
