Why do kids ask questions when they already know the answer?

[ilovetolive]

ok, some days I get really, really tired of answering questions. ESPECIALLY when the kids already know the answer. Why do they do this? For attention?
example:
Every time I serve oranges for after school snack, i remind the kids (ages 6-9 yrs) that they must eat the whole slice of orange before they take another one (this is for the kids that just suck the juice out, and leave the rest of it) and every single time the 7 year old says " do we have to eat the peel too?". and every time i say "no, you know that you do not eat the peel". I am thinking about ignoring her next time I serve oranges. Would that correct the problem?
or
I announce to ALL the kids that they must put on their snow pants when we are getting ready to go. Is that not clear? So why do I get kids coming up to me one by one asking me " do I need to put on my snow pants?" ARRRHH!

Sometimes i think kids are genetically engineered to push us into losing our minds!

[JennJubie]

My dd does this! She's 3, but she constantly asks things she already knows the answer to. She knows her colours, and she'll be holding something red and ask me at least 3 or 4 times "Is this red?" I know she does it for attention.

Your kids are probably doing this, too. It could be, with asking about the snow pants that they could be hoping that one day you actually say no :)

[sunnydays]

Hahahaha! I have two that do this all day long...especially a 3 year old and my 2.5 year old "Why are you changing his diaper?" me: "because he pooped" dcg: "Why?" LOL
It is just a part of kids development to ask questions, even when they know the answers. If I know that they know the answer, I turn it back on them "You tell me" or "What do you think?". It can help...although my 3 year old dcg will say "Just because?" when I ask her...I think that is the standard answer her parents give...LOL. She has a really hard time answering whenI turn it back on her, but I am working on that with her as it is a thinking skill I believe is valuable. As annoying as the questions are, I try to take them as an opportunity to get kids thinking and answering some things for themselves. I know how you feel though...sometimes I feel like tearing my hair out too!

[Momof4]

How many times a day do I ask my group if they are listening to me? Too many times to count! But my group is aged 3 and under. I can't imagine how crazy ages 6-9 children would make me on a daily basis. They have attitudes!

[daycarewhisperer]

It is an engagement. They are getting you to DO them. It's a way they have learned to get you to DO them that works EVERY time and they don't get a consequence that affects them negatively. They do what WORKS. Your response is training them to do it over and over.

[gcj]

I have an almost 3yo dcb who does this ALL day EVERY day. I just shoot the question back at him now to answer, since he knows the answer. I don't think it's helped. I don't answer, but I don't think he asks less.
But 7 is old to be doing that!