The Why Game
My son Sammy is nearly three, and his favorite question is “why?” I thought it was just a cliché, but no, apparently two-year-olds really do commonly go through this phase.
It’s easy to get exhausted with the constant questioning, but I don’t want to discourage his curiosity. So to keep me engaged, I’ve turned it into a game now (just for me), and here are the rules:
- For every answer you give that prompts your child to ask “why” again, score one point and continue playing.
- If your child is confused, can’t or doesn’t understand, or changes topics, stop. You lose. Score no points.
- If your answer has to involve fundamental physics, graduate level psychology, or the answer “because” or “why not” (or variations thereof), stop, you lose, score no points.
- If your child accepts your answer and appears to understand it, and doesn’t ask why in response, stop the game, you win. Total your score. See if you can beat it next time!
Here’s a recent example game:
Dad: Look, there’s a new building being built.
Sammy: Why?
Dad: Probably they want to make a nice new store for people to shop in.
Sammy: Why? (Score one point!)
Dad: Well, people like to buy things.
Sammy: Why? (Score one point!)
Dad: Hmm. Well, because sometimes you need diapers or food or clothes. So then you have to go to a store and buy them.
Sammy: Why? (Score one point!)
Dad: Uh… OK, because, well, you see, I don’t make diapers or food or clothes, so since we need them, we have to give people money, and then in exchange they give us the things we want.
Sammy: Why? (Score one point!)
Dad: Oh! Because when you go to a store, the people that work there have to let you buy things with money.
Sammy: Why? (Score one point!)
Dad: Well, that’s their job.
Sammy: Why? (Score one point!)
Dad: Well, they must work there to earn money.
Sammy: I want to watch a show. (Change of topic — LOSE ALL POINTS!)
Dad: No, no show tonight, sorry.
Sammy: Why?
Dad: Shows are special treats.
Sammy: Why? (New game, score one point!)
Dad: Because you shouldn’t watch too many shows. You already got to watch yesterday.
Sammy: Why? (Score one point!)
Dad: Because yesterday you did a good job at naptime, so you got a special treat.
Sammy: I didn’t cry! (Game over, final score, two points!)
My record so far is eight.
