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A common trait of children, and gifted ones in particular, is that they typically ask LOTS of question, often to the point of exasperating parents. Instead of resorting to �Because I said so!� try postponing exhausting questions to a more convenient time. Acknowledge the question and let your child know that you can talk about it later. Read more and see further tips in the article Dealing with Never-ending Questions.

Thank you... heading over there now....

waaaaaaaaait a minute: I've been trying the notebook thing... what do you do when you fill several pages of "I don't know" per day? You can't look ALL that up at the dinner table... what about when the "I don't knows" come too fast to be written down, especially when they're coming at times when it's not safe to stop and write?

Nice article, keep trying

Seriously, we're desperate here, we need the big guns on this issue

-Mich

lol.. I realized I said it too much when my toddler answered "why" with "because I say so." Seriously, though, that's why I think a good early education is beneficial because then the kids don't ever have to lose that curiosity. If you're capable of finding the answers to your questions then the fire's been lit and they can figure it out themselves.

One strategy that might work is to turn the question back to the child. It gives you a little break but also makes the child think more deeply about the question. I have used this technique when the question comes at an inconvenient time. I will say,"hmm we need to think about this one. Why don't you think about what could be the answer and I will do the same. We will then discuss our ideas in 15 minutes."

My son's latest response to my "I don't know" -

"Let's ask Siri!"

I learned from my sister watching her answer the constant questioning by her HG+ son to answer, "Well, what do you think?" Works like a charm much of the time with my kids.

What do you think never works for DS... He says "I don't know" and then asks me again.

And he still thinks I'm lying when I say I don't know.


-Mich

When I used to get to the end of what I didn't know, and the questions wouldn't end even after an I don't know, I'd make up some outrageous, hilarious answer that was way over the top. Most of the time, this would break the cycle.

When DS was 3 and super into the endless string of q's I was torn between answering them and my sanity. A teacher once told me that not answering their questions and putting them off kills their curiosity and makes me less interested over time - but they hadn't met my kid - I was pretty good for the most part in answering them or turning them back around - what do you think, etc. but one day it was one why too many and I just lost it a minute and just said Zee! He looked at me like I was nuts and then got it -xyz - and laughed. It became a little understanding between us - mommy has reached the end of her question answering ability, please come back later!

The good news is his questions just get more interesting over time.

DeHe