Most adults have been there: the fifth “why?” in a row, asked at the exact moment you’re trying to get out of the door. It’s tempting to reach for “because it just is”. But those questions are often a child’s way of building a picture of how the world fits together.
Answer with a question
Instead of giving the answer straight away, try asking what they think. “Why do you think the leaves change colour?” It slows things down in a good way, and it shows children that their ideas are worth hearing.
It’s fine not to know
Saying “I’m not sure — shall we find out together?” turns a question into a small project, and shows that not knowing is where learning starts.
