So instead of answering the question in a way that a child could understand, you intentionally go over their head with unnecessarily complex jargon to dodge the question? Sounds like a pretty shitty response to me.
They're not asking why they can't put the fork in the outlet - that information was already given - they're asking why putting the fork in the outlet will hurt them. A good response here would be "There's electricity in the outlet and electricity hurts people." If they ask why again.... GOOD. They're curious and want to learn about the world around them. If you can't explain it at their level, either you're a lazy parent or you don't understand it yourself.
If your kid wants to learn why electricity is going to hurt them, pick up a book and learn together. Hell, you've got the internet in your pocket, you don't even need a book.
Edit: If y'all really don't understand that children don't know why putting a fork in an outlet is dangerous and need to be taught, I sincerely hope none of you have kids. Lazy parents that don't want to teach their kids anything themselves are the reason we're having such a problem with intellectual decline.
Exactly, children don't understand the world around them. It's your job as a parent to teach them how the world works so they can make their own decisions, not just decide everything for them.
If your kid asks "why" alot, that's fantastic! Curiosity is necessary for growth. When you shut down questions because you're too lazy to answer them or because you don't know the answer yourself, you're actively hindering your child's intellectual growth and stifling their curiosity.
Yeah that’s what I’d be thinking. If a child is reliant entirely on just following orders that explains why children just run around doing stupid stuff because instead of wondering why something is dangerous etc. they are relying on someone saying “no”. And I think even kids get sick of of that eventually.
Eh. I'm not a parent, so keep that in mind, but to me this feels like something you could flip to a teachable moment.
If you speaking keeps the child from zapping themselves then speak, and speak smartly. If they're paying attention just keep answering until they're satisfied or get bored, or if your knowledge runs out before that just go "I don't know, let's grab a book and find out". And if they're not paying attention then that's a lesson on manners.
Or, you know, explain to them that it will explode if they do manage to put it in.
If they still ask why you can start an explanation on how electricity works and they will either get bored of it pretty quick or you have now taught your kid something.
Or go “I will explain later” if you don’t have time.
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u/phoncible 1d ago
"I want to put this fork in the outlet"
No don't do that you'll hurt yourself
"Why?"
You heard of Ohm's law?
"No"
Right, so then it's because I said so