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The questions of a toddler. Why is the sky blue? Why does the sun go down? Why does an airplane not fall from the sky?
As they get older, the questions change. Why do I have to do school? It so boring. Why do I have to brush my teeth? They are just going to get dirty again. Same with their room and a bath.
Then the questions get harder. Does God really exist? Why did my friend’s parents get a divorce? Why do I have to practice?
Do these questions annoy you? They shouldn’t. On the contrary, we should be concerned when our kids don’t ask questions. That usually means they are keeping them inside or asking someone else.
Questions are good! As our children grow up, they are building a database of beliefs. They are deciding who and what to believe about not only the common things of life but also the deeper issues in their hearts.
Welcome and encourage questions from your kids at every age. There is life in the why. Welcoming and encouraging their questions is a key trust builder in your relationship with your kids. Suzanne says, “If you listen to them when they are five, they will talk to you when they are fifteen.”
Now I’m not talking about rebellious questions where they whine a why question to try to get out of something. I’m talking about genuine curiosity about life. These questions are great conversation starters on so many issues we want to talk about with our kids. We get to shape their lives for good as we create a relationship with them that encourages them to ask “Why?”
