Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Child Asking Questions She Knows the Answers To | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
My seven-year-old daughter lately asks a lot of questions that she knows the answers to. Not just questions like, "How old am I?" But she always asks questions like, "What are we having for dinner?" after she just picked up the box of hamburger helper and peered into the pot. Is this her way of getting attention or is this normal? I am going nuts because she is so smart and mature.— Mom Trying to Understand in Owosso, MI | | | ANSWER |
December 21, 2001 | | | Dear Mom Trying to Understand,
Asking lots of questions is an effective way for a verbal child to get attention, and also to be sociable. It takes a long time for many grown-ups to develop the ability to chat; and your daughter is making a good attempt at it, for a seven-year-old.
Still, I can see where it might get tiresome after a while. Don't hesitate to tell your daughter when she's asked enough questions for the moment and needs to just be quiet. At other times, you might also turn the question asking into a game, by recognizing that you know that she knows the answer. Tell her, "That's one of your I-already-know-the-answer questions, isn't it? Well, I have one for you!" Then ask a silly question of your own. Soon you will both be giggling.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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