What to Do when Your Child Constantly Asks Questions

How wonderful it is to have intelligent, and inquisitive children? Well that depends on what you have to get done in a day. My seven year old is extremely inquisitive; he asks questions about anything he sees, hears, feels, or that just pops into his head. I love that he wants to learn, but sometimes I just want to stick earplugs in and ignore the incessant questions.

Most of the time I really don't mind him asking questions, I just wish I could teach him when it was not the best time. There is no way I will make it through a phone conversation without being interrupted by questions at least half a dozen times. Completely forget about watching a television show or movie because you wont hear half of what is being said. Holy Moly some of the things he asks would embarrass a sailor. I don't want to answer those. Sometimes it's enough to make me want to rip my hair out. So how to deal with a bombardment of questions without drinking heavily? You learn.

It helps to give quick concise answers. This way you don't have to explain when they don't get the answer. Now you can move on to the next question. Yeah for me. During phone calls point to the telephone and ask your child if they see this thing attached to your ear. I have found this aggravates them enough to hold off for at least five minutes. Also try having them write the questions down, usually this takes way to much time so they quit bugging you. During a movie or television show I recommend Tevo. Or a DVR, this way you can pause the program, and answer the question without missing anything. Better yet you can record it and watch it after your child goes to bed.

Answering a question with "I don't know" rarely if ever works. Then they'll just want to know why you don't know. Asking them to ask again later when you're not busy does work most of the time and hey if you're really lucky they may forget to ask again, though I'm sure they will have five other questions to take that one's place.

When all else fails, pass the buck. I will do a sweep of the house to see who is available and unoccupied then tell my son to go ask them. When I get to this point no one is safe, not sisters, dad, or even the dogs. I've even had him call grandparents when the interrogation has gotten to be too much.

As a parent we know asking questions is the best way for our children to acquire information. But when the "whys", "home comes" and such get to be too much, put yourself in a time out, hide in the bathroom if you have to. Although even the bathroom is not off limits in my house, he will just shout questions through the door, wait until you have gotten a little less wound up or frustrated. Now you can answer your child's questions without screaming bloody murder.