How to Answer Impossible Questions from Kids
How to Answer Impossible Questions from Kids
Go ask your mother…
“Why doesn’t Spiderman shoot webs out of his butt like a real spider?”
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Kids ask lots of questions. It’s super annoying but in a totally adorable way.
Here are some great responses for some of the most common impossible questions that the little monsters like to throw at us when we’re least expecting it.
Great Books for Curious Minds
Big Questions from Little People
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
Talking Points
In Reply to An Impossible Question
“That’s a great question, and I’m going to leave that one to you to answer. Some of the best things you’ll learn are the ones you discover yourself. Let’s go to the library and see if we can’t find an answer to that.”
”You know, honey, there are just some questions that even I can’t answer. But that’s kind of fun too, you know? If we knew all the answers to every question there ever was, well, what fun would be in that? We wouldn’t need to read or talk to each other or go to neat places — we do all those things and more because life is constantly asking us questions and it’s our part of the game to try and answer them.”
FAQs from Kids
Where did the dinosaurs go?
A long time ago, about 65 million years ago, a giant rock from space hit the Earth and changed everything. The dinosaurs couldn't live in the new conditions and eventually died out. This allowed new animals that could survive better to appear.
Why are there so many languages?
Many years ago, people in different places made up their own words to describe things in their lives. Over time, these words became the languages we speak today. Languages also change, so the way we speak now is different from how people spoke a long time ago.
Why do we have “private parts”?
We call certain parts of our body "private parts" because we use them for things we don't do in public, like going to the bathroom. That's why we cover them with clothes and only show them to trusted adults like parents or doctors if needed.
Why are some people homeless?
Some people don't have a home because they might have lost their job or gotten very sick. It's important to treat them with respect and help them when we can, like by donating to shelters or giving them warm clothes.
What makes people sick?
Tiny things called germs can get into our bodies through the air, food, or when we touch our face without washing our hands. Most of the time, our bodies fight off germs, but sometimes they make us sick. Rest and medicine usually help us get better.
Why do you cry sometimes when you’re happy?
Sometimes we feel so many emotions at once that we just have to let them out. Kids might jump or yell when they're happy, but grown-ups sometimes cry because their feelings are a bit more complicated.
Why can’t I stay up late, too?
Your body and brain need a break after a busy day. Since kids are learning and doing a lot more than adults each day, they need extra rest to be ready for the next day.
Why can’t I always get new toys like the other kids?
Different families spend their money in different ways. Having more toys doesn't make anyone happier or better than others. It's important to appreciate what we have and find happiness in other things.
Why does it rain?
Rain happens when water droplets in clouds get too heavy and fall to the ground. Clouds are made of tiny water droplets that stick together until they become too heavy to stay in the sky.
Why do some people look different?
We all have tiny things in our bodies called genes, like a computer's code, that decide how we look. Some genes make our eyes blue, others make our hair blonde. This is why everyone looks unique.
Where do babies come from?
When two adults love each other very much, they can create a baby inside the mother. The baby grows inside her until it is ready to be born.
Why does it snow?
Snow happens when water vapors in the air freeze into ice before turning into water. These ice crystals stick to tiny bits of dirt in the air, forming snowflakes that fall to the ground.
Why is the sky blue?
The sky looks blue because of the way light from the sun gets scattered in the air. At sunrise and sunset, the light scatters differently, making the sky look red and orange.
What are black holes?
Black holes are like super strong vacuum cleaners in space that suck up everything around them, even light. Imagine if you had a toy that was so heavy and squished into such a small space that it pulled everything close to it and wouldn't let anything go, not even light. That's what a black hole does!
Why is water wet?
Well, ‘wet’ is a word we use to describe something that has water or another liquid on it. Since water has liquid on it, you could say it is ‘wet’ too.
Why do people die?
People die when their bodies stop working. This can happen because of sickness, injury, or because their body has just worn out after many years.
Why is the sea salty?
The sea is salty because of rocks! When it rains, water flows over rocks and picks up tiny bits of minerals, including salt. This water eventually makes its way to rivers and then to the sea. Over millions of years, all the salt from the rocks has built up in the ocean, making it salty.
Why does the moon change shapes?
The moon changes shapes because of how it orbits around the Earth and how the sunlight hits it. When we see different parts of the lit-up side of the moon, it looks like it's changing shapes. Sometimes we see the whole bright side (a full moon), and sometimes we see just a small part of it (a crescent moon). This is because of the moon's position relative to the Earth and the Sun.
Do caterpillars burp?
Nope, but their farts are outrageous.
Do ghosts have butts?
I should hope so!
