Interrupting

Do you get frustrated when you’re trying to carry on a conversation with another adult or even one of your other children and you get interrupted? It’s frustrating to everyone involved. Here are a few tips to help your little one learn to wait their turn during conversations.

Children’s have a small social circle. They often interrupt because they feel that they are the center of the world and that it all revolves around them and their needs. Helping them understand that there are rules around conversations with others and that what others have to say is just as important as what they have to stay is critical to stopping interruptions.

Establish some basic rules of the road and stick to them:

• Establish rules for when visitors come to your home – when you have company coming over tell your children that it’s really important that you talk to your company uninterrupted. Offer them alternatives to keep them busy such as a toy, book or TV.
• Point out when your child interrupts – this will help them identify the disruptive behavior and learn that it is not appropriate.
• Don’t ignore interruptions – this is likely to result in frustration and often makes children interrupt more.
• Explain when interrupting is ok. Describe what types of situations are important and what aren’t.
• Explain how important listening is instead of interrupting. Listening is a critical part of the communication model and an important skill need to excel in school.

Hopefully, over time, you’ll see a reduction in interruptions from your child.