How long do children do something and not know why??

My older sister was talking to me about some of her friends' kids. (ages anywhere from 3-6) They did a few things and couldn't give her an answer as to why. I told her kids do things and have no explaination for it. I have been told this a few times by Pediatricians, etc. I know that it's natural/normal that they really have no reason for why they did it. I just don't know at what age "I don't know"is no longer be accepted. When do they have a reason for their behavior? I remember doing things as a kid I KNEW were wrong, but did it anyhow. (I was probly 4 or 5 and drew on the mesh cover of my dad's speaker  )I am asking for her benefit, but I also have a son who will turn 5 in a week. I don't get this excuse often, but would like to know when to not accept it.

I don't know, but my husband still does it, so maybe men don't outgrow it  

I would say not to ask why they did something if the answer is obvious. If they can't comprehend to answer, you're just going to get lied to or the frustration of not being able to answer your question is going to detract from what they did wrong in the first place and it will be about them giving you the "right" answer as to WHYinstead of being held responsible for WHAT they did.

Quoting jnazmom:“ I would say not to ask why they did something if the answer is obvious. If they can't comprehend to answer, ... [snip!] ... place and it will be about them giving you the "right" answer as to WHYinstead of being held responsible for WHAT they did.”

I agree the reason dosen't matter..

By 5 they should be pretty aware of right and wrong, in most circumstances.

I think a lot of it is that they just don't think about things before they do them. My step-daughter is 6, they other day I picked her up from swimming at her Papa's, and told her to change into ther cloths. What does she do? Puts her clothes on overtop of her soaking wetbathing suit, and then she was crying because her clothes where wet.   I asked her why she didn't know that water makes things wet, and I got "I just don't think about things sometimes" It's just about the same as "I dont know" but I guess kids are just so in the moment, consequences don't accour to them.