Your 4-Yeaar Old: Your Little Reporter

Your Little Reporter

Who, what, when, where, how, and why are the standards of a good reporter. And that's what your child is now — gathering up all the facts and turning them into stories and conversations that make sense. Nonstop questions can drive parents crazy, but if you go with the flow they can also be a charming way to engage with your child, while clueing her in about the workings of the world.
Your 4-year-old now
Conversations can sometimes feel like interrogations with curious, chatty 4-year-olds. A particular favorite now is the "wh" words: Where are we going, Mom? When will we get there? Who are we going to see? Why isn't Dad coming with us?

As part of her new mental abilities, she's getting all the connections put together. She wants to see the order of things. Another reason for the nonstop questions is that your child's vocabulary is exploding, and she wants to practice using words to probe her world. Intellectually, she's beginning to understand that there are reasons for things — and she wants to know what they are.

Try not to brush off questions, relentless though they may be. Keep your answers short and sweet. She doesn't really want a long-winded scientific explanation of why the sky is blue. When you get tired of answering, ask questions back instead: "What do you think?" If you notice a persistent theme to questions that show your child is really curious about something — say, clouds — visit the library together and check out a few books that fuel the interest. Who knows where her questions may take you? At the very least, you'll learn how to tell a cirrus from a cumulus.

Your life now
Perseverance is an important trait to model for your child. Studies show that people who are persistent — rather than those who have high IQs — tend to achieve greater success in life. Let your child see you going the extra mile, whether it's fixing something around the house or sticking with the same project such as a big book or a painting night after night.