It is common for kids to ask unlimited questions. However, is it normal for parents not to answer some of these questions? Researchers say yes.
About 1000 parents were surveyed in a poll about questions asked by their children. Results show that 83 percent of the participants cannot answer their kids' queries and about 63 percent were ashamed to admit that they don't have answers that they create stories and make-up answers.
The poll was instituted as part of the Tomorrow's engineer week celebration. Parents were asked to tweet difficult questions asked by their children and they will be assisted by engineers to receive answers to these questions. Examples of questions are: How do stars stay in the sky? Why onions make you cry? Why is the sky blue and who invented computers?
Researchers found how UK parents are not knowledgeable enough to answer their children's questions especially when it comes to STEM subjects. The purpose of this experiment is not just to give solutions to children's questions but to encourage parents to influence their children to develop a greater desire to learn especially when it comes to STEM subjects.
"The IET's #AskTheEngineers initiative is part of wider campaign called Engineer a Better World, which was launched earlier this year. The campaign is all about encouraging more young people - particularly girls - to consider engineering as a potential career option in the future. By engaging with parents and children through the campaign, we hope we can build the engineering workforce of the future - enabling the UK to remain a world leader in engineering and technology," the engineers explained.
But do parents need to have all the answers to their kids' inquiry all the time? Experts believe that parents should not feel scared not to know the answers to their children's questions. According to experts, parents should feel comfortable admitting that "they don't know the answers" to their children rather than make- up unreal answers. This attitude will encourage the children to ask more questions and seek answers as their parents learn the same way.
