Guess With Jess
YOU WHAT
Four out of ten parents admit they feel inadequate when their curious kids ask them them questions they can't answer - like 'How is rain made?'.
Other brain-teasers which are regularly fired at unsuspecting mums and dads include 'Where did I come from?' and 'What do ants eat?'.
'Why is the sea salty?' and 'Where does God live?' also featured on the list of questions which are likely to leave parents' squirming in the seats.
The worrying statistics emerged in a study of 3,000 parents by Classic Media to mark the launch of Guess with Jess, a brand new children’s television programme that tackles some of the more common science and nature based questions posed by 2-5 year olds.
Researchers found a staggering 52 per cent often find it difficult to answer searching questions from their young children.
Almost a quarter of parents admitted making up an answer while another 24 per cent admitted trying to distract their child with something else to avoid answering the question.
Jennie Lindon, psychologist and consultant to the show, said: ''Inquisitive young children can ask their parents some tough questions. Even what appear to be simple questions can leave you feeling stumped.
''It is worrying to hear that 40 percent of the parents in the survey felt inadequate to answer their child’s questions.
''It is exciting when children become really curious about the world around them and ask those searching questions.
''We want parents to feel confident and part of that discovery.''
The study also found a third of mums and dads don’t know how to describe how rain is made, whilst 18 per cent get muddled when trying to explain where babies come from.
Fifteen per cent of find it hard to say why girls and boys are different and a further 15 per cent have no idea what ants eat.
Other nature based questions which leave parents stumped include 'What do fish drink?', 'How do bees make honey?' and 'How do spiders build webs?'.
Science questions such as what makes thunder, what makes a rainbow and how do planes fly in the sky also pose a big challenge to uncertain parents.
More than a third said they feel very anxious when they couldn't answer their child’s questions and 26 per cent said they wished their child asked less questions.
But 37 per cent of these parents said they did try and research answers to difficult questions on the internet so they were better prepared next time round.
It also emerged 15 per cent would take their child to a library if they were particularly interested in a subject while 12 per cent would buy them a book about the subject so they could learn more.
Jennie Lindon added: ''The key is to embrace your child’s curiosity and to coax them towards figuring out some answers for themselves. You can give gentle pointers rather than always providing the answer.
''This takes the pressure off Mums and Dads to find tricky answers on the spot. But just as important you’re helping your children with the tools for thinking.
''They need to learn for themselves, through exploring and trying out different possible answers and solutions.
''Guess with Jess obviously can’t answer all the weird and wonderful questions children ask their parents. But it does address intriguing questions about how caterpillars turn into butterflies, why spiders build webs and how puddles disappear.
''Most importantly, this new programme shows clearly how learning is a process. Young viewers, watching with their parents, will see that learning is as much about being wrong as being right. Hopefully this will put some of those worries to rest if parents are anxious.''
Guess With Jess is a brand new children’s television programme launching on CBeebies at 9.45am on Monday 9th November.
The survey was commissioned by Classic Media and conducted by One Poll
TOP 20 QUESTIONS PARENTS STRUGGLE TO ANSWER
1. How does it rain?
2. Where did I come from?
3. How are girls and boys different?
4. What do ants eat?
5. Where does the wind come from?
6. Where does God live?
7. Why is the sea salty?
8. What makes thunder?
9. What makes a rainbow?
10. What do fish drink?
11. Why can’t I remember being born?
12. What is heaven?
13. How do spiders build webs?
14. Why is the sky blue?
15. How does a man get inside the TV?
16. Why do I have to go to bed when it’s not dark?
17. How do bees make honey?
18. Why can planes fly in the sky?
19. How does Father Christmas get down the chimney?
20. How are babies made?
