The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask (Pre-K through 2nd Grade): The Best Answers to the Toughest, Smartest, and Most Awkward Questions Kids Always Ask

242 Pages·2010·2.23 MB·English

by  Susan Bartell

50
THE
The Best Answers

to the Toughest,

Smartest, and TOP

Most Awkward
Questions Kids
Questions

Always Ask

K I D S A S K

Pre-K through 2nd Grade

“If you value good sense, and you need some advice
that works—in the heat of a tricky moment with your kid

and long-term, too—this is the parenting guide for you.”

—Sarah Smith, editor-in-chief of Kiwi magazine

DR. SUSAN

BARTELL
America’s #1 Family Psychologist
Praise for The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask
(Pre-K through 2nd Grade)
“If you’ve ever been stumped by a question your child
has asked you, this book will help. Dr. Bartell identi-
fies the ‘hot-button’ questions that consistently come up
and actually provides the best possible answers to those
questions so parents don’t have to come up with them on
their own on the spur of the moment.”
—Elisa Ast All, cofounder, iParenting Media, and
executive editor of Disney Mom & Family Portfolio
“Finally, a book that answers all those questions we
parents go in a cold sweat about! Dr. Susan tackles the
tough ones such as money, shyness, siblings, and reli-
gion. Plus, we get the psychology behind it all to better
understand our kids. You’ll find yourself using this book
every day.”
—Pam Atherton, journalist and host of
A Closer Look radio talk show
“Tremendous, reassuring wisdom in an easy to access
format!”
—Grace Housholder, editor of Great Fort Wayne
(Indiana) Family magazine
“Bill Cosby was correct—kids do say the darndest things.
They also ask the darndest questions. What a stroke of
brilliance to have captured these questions and then to
provide parents with the best way to respond to each.
Dr. Susan Bartell has once again found a way to offer
sensible, succinct, and straightforward advice in yet
another amazing book.”
—Sara Dimerman, Psych. Assoc., child and
family therapist, author of Character Is
the Key and Am I a Normal Parent?
“Dr. Susan is highly gifted at helping parents and kids
connect from the heart. This book honors our innate
wisdom, supports us in nurturing our kids’ emotional
growth, and empowers us to be the parents we were
meant to be.”
—Renee Peterson Trudeau, life balance
expert/coach and author of The Mother’s
Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim,
Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life
“If you value good sense, and you need some advice that
works—in the heat of a tricky moment with your kid and
long-term, too—this is the parenting guide for you.”
—Sarah Smith, editor-in-chief of Kiwi magazine
“The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask is an insightful guide on
the issues and concerns every parent and child faces. It’s
a must-read guide that both moms and dads should keep
at their bedside.”
—Allison O’Connor, founder and editor
of SingleMindedWomen.com
“Dr. Susan Bartell is the go-to person for all questions
kids ask. No one is better qualified or more in touch with
this age group to lend her expertise to a book that aids
parents in improving communication with their ever-
curious children.”
—Renee Raab Whitcombe, author of
Look Who’s Going to Be a Big Sister and
Look Who’s Going to Be a Big Brother
“As a mother of three, I know the many questions kids
ask and how often parents can be caught off guard. But
helping dispel fears and concerns is a cornerstone of par-
enting a child. Dr. Susan Bartell breaks it all down in a
straightforward yet lighthearted manner to help parents
master this very important skill.”
—Danielle Sullivan, managing editor
of NY Metro Parents
“Dr. Susan Bartell has done it again! She takes the
toughest questions that kids ask us parents and gives
us clear steps to figure out how we’ll answer before the
questions are asked. Using her recommendations will
deepen communication and understanding between
children and parents.”
—Nancy Gruver, founder of New Moon
Girl Media and author of How to Say It to Girls
“Easy-to-implement parenting advice in bite-sized, easy-
to-read pieces. Dr. Bartell states the question, uncovers
the meaning, and suggests how to respond.”
—Lucy Banta, managing editor of
New Jersey Family and Raising Teens
50
the
top
Questions
k i d s a s k
Pre-K through 2nd Grade
The Best Answers
to the Toughest,
Smartest, and
Most Awkward

Questions Kids
Always Ask
dr. susan Bartell
Copyright © 2010 by Susan Bartell
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bartell, Susan.
The top 50 questions kids ask (pre-K through 2nd grade) : the best answers to
the toughest, smartest, and most awkward questions kids always ask / Susan
Bartell.
p. cm.
1. Children’s questions and answers. I. Title.
HQ784.Q4B372 2010
649’.123—dc22
2009039238
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For my children, Max, Gillian, and Mollie.
You started asking questions as soon as you
could talk, and I hope you never stop!
For every child and parent with
whom I have ever worked.
Your questions have taught me how to help
kids be happy, and I am deeply grateful.

Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Chapter One: Nag, Nag, Nag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter Two: Getting Out in the World . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Chapter Three: Setting Limits and Boundaries . . . . . 57
Chapter Four: “I’m Scared” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Chapter Five: Little Kids Can Be Spiritual . . . . . . . . 107
Chapter Six: Step-by-Step Separation . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Chapter Seven: Does Money Grow on Trees? . . . . . . 155
Chapter Eight: Growing Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
Chapter Nine: Just between You and Me . . . . . . . . . 199
Chapter Ten: One Last Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219