Children ask ‘why’ 8 times a day – and half the time we don’t know answer!

CURIOSITY may have killed the cat – but as any parent will tell you, it doesn’t seem to do young children much harm.

Youngsters under 11 ask ‘Why?’ around eight times a day – with questions that can leave many parents stumped.

In fact, a survey found that mums and dads are unable to answer their children’s queries more than half the time.

Almost half of parents (47 per cent) said their offspring became more curious during long car journeys – and not just with the old chestnut ‘Are we there yet?’.

Parents found ‘How long will it take?’ and ‘What happens when you die? among the most challenging questions to answer.

‘Where do babies come from?’ is often prompted by the birth of a sibling, leaving couples searching for an answer as tasteful as it is accurate.

The research, by the Read On, Get On literacy campaign, also found that science inquiries often present a challenge.

A quarter of those questioned admitted to being flummoxed by imponderables such as ‘Why is the sky blue?’ and ‘How many stars are there in the sky?’. But while 48 per cent took the time to look up the answers with their child, 26 per cent said they were creative with the truth.

Language therapist Kate Freeman said ‘Why?’ questions were crucial to development, adding: ‘If children don’t have strong language skills at five they can get left behind when they start school and struggle with learning to read. That’s why it’s so important for adults to chat with children to help them develop the essential language skills needed to be ready to read when they enter the classroom.’

Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway, an ambassador for Read On, Get On, said: ‘My six-year- old asked, “Why do girls’ toilets have a picture of a person with a skirt on? Girls wear trousers all the time and in Scotland boys wear skirts”.

‘That one, I did know the answer to! But often I don’t. So it’s fun to look up the answers together on the internet.’

BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Lauren Laverne said her two children’s philosophical questions were ‘above my pay grade’, adding: ‘My youngest is very imaginative. He asks, “Are we alive or is this a dream?”.’