Tips on answering a child's complicated questions

Jet, March 21, 2005

"Where do babies come from?" It's just one of the many questions that a child may pose at any given time or place. It's also a question that most parents expect to be asked, but dread to answer.

The next time your inquisitive youngster stops you in your tracks with a weighty question, have no fear. The following suggestions from www.parenting.org, a service of Girls and Boys Town, can help in your response:

BE TRUTHFUL.

Making up stories about the facts of life is likely to confuse your child. Before you answer, find out what he or she thinks the answer is to the question. Once you have an idea of what your child knows, tell the truth by providing basic facts that are easy to understand.

DON'T GET CLINICAL.

Too much detail is a no-no, partly because the attention span for a child is short. Keep your response clean and simple. Be aware of your choice of words. Children have a tendency to repeat what they hear, and you don't want to cause embarrassment to yourself or your child.

BUY THE BOOK.

If your answer seems too complex for your little one to comprehend, consider purchasing a children's book that explains the concept on their level. A book's explanation allows your child to learn weighty concepts in an easy-to-grasp format--and you're not tongue-tied in your explanation.

BE COOL.

Out-of-the-blue questions from your child may be a little jolting at first, but the key is to remain calm. Instead of scolding your child for asking a question, take pride in the fact that he or she is coming to you for answers--and not searching elsewhere.