WHEN KID ASKS 'WHY,' BE WISE.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Byline: BARBARA F. MELTZ Boston Globe

Have you ever had a conversation like this with your preschooler?

Child: "Mom, why do cars have wheels?"

Parent, brightly: "Well, so they can go."

Child: "Why?"

Parent, with enthusiasm: "Why do they go? That's what cars do. Go places."

Child: "Why?"

Parent, with less enthusiasm: "So people can get where they need to go."

Child: "Why?"

Parent, with an edge: "Because people need to go places."

Child: "Why?"

Parent, with animosity: "Why what?"

Child: "Why are you getting angry, Mom?"

If ever a word was created to try parents' patience, "why" is it. Not only do young children use "why" indiscriminately, not only do they expect parents to have answers to "whys" that have no answers, but they also expect us to be as willing to explore the "whys" as they are.

Here, then, is welcome information: Your child may be asking about something …