Why do 3 year olds ask "whats that?" even when they know what it is?

Question

Why do 3 year olds ask "whats that?" even when they know what it is?

Answer 1

They want your attention, your love, for you to engage them, to talk with them, to do things with them, etc.

Answer 2

Grown ups are fascinating to little kids so they want to know everything we know because to them we know it all. My five year old asks me questions all the time that he already knows the answer to but he just wants to have an "adult" conversation with me. Just give them the answer they are looking for and then ask them a question...it's funny when they come up with their own conclusions to their questions because they are so innocent and they soak up every word you say!  

Answer 3

So they can start the never ending question conversation, whats that? why? what does it do? why? where does it come from? why? why is it doing that? why? and on and on and on.........

Answer 4

Younger children don't really know how to start conversations so they begin to ask questions knowing that most adults like them to be curious and will answer them.

Answer 5

I have a little brother who does that they think it is funny and sometimes they forget  

Answer 6

My son always says why? even after I tell him why he repeats himself..why? why? He just likes to hear my voice and get my attention.  

Answer 7

its just one of the things 3 yr olds do, kind of like asking "why?" for everything.  

Answer 8

Maybe they are just looking to make conversation. Remember three year olds are naturally curious.

Answer 9

Learning is repetition.

Answer 10

just to be talking i guess, but it will drive you crazy. It goes on for along time. At one point i use to could say anything to answer my son then he got older and started correcting me if I  didn't give the right answer. That's a 3 yr old for ya.  

Answer 11

my neighbor was almost the same way at that age.

its just the age they are at, there minds are growing so much and they feel they need to know everything.

between the ages of 4 and 5, my neighbor, we would watch high school musical (her favrotie)  and every 2 minutes was a new question.  "why are troy and gabriella going outside?"   "do u think they are all friends?"   "is gabriella friends with hannah montana?"

it goes on and on,

we never once watched that movie in quietness lol

Answer 12

To make conversation with you.

Answer 13

because they want to talk to you and they  want you to talk back to them.

Answer 14

to get u to talk to them.

Answer 15

I go batty in the car with that question.  My 4 and 5 year olds used to do it and now my 2 year old has started.  They are just trying to have conversation.  I always answer with, "Well, what do you think it is..." and that often leads to us actually having a "conversation" about something because sometimes they don't get it right or I tell them other words they could use, etc.  Sometimes I just turn up the radio and go into deaf mode.

Answer 16

just to talk

Answer 17

Because they like attention, and I know the kids I babysit do it when they're jealous of all the attention their younger siblings get. They do the same thing with "What are you doing?" To respond to this, you could say "You know what that is, silly! It's a ____!", or you could make them laugh by saying "It's a chicken!" or "Spaghetti!". But be careful when using sarcasm with little kids. Don't sound annoyed or mean. And only say it with the ovbvious things, you don't want to confuse them.

Answer 18

lol because they just want to talk my 8 year old sister still does it