Does Your Child Keep Interrupting? Here's What to Do!

If you are interested in what to do when your child keeps interrupting, you should first pause to consider why your child does this.

To begin with, your child doesn't automatically realize they are interrupting your conversations. If you understand the emotional need of your child to be at the center of attention, you will be more likely to show patience when they interrupt.

"Don't interrupt!" means very little to a child who is desperate to share an idea with you before the limitations of their thinking cause them to forget what they are trying to say.

Plan Social Encounters Wisely

If your child tends to interrupt your conversations, you can handle the situation by planning your social encounters in advance.

If you have something important to say to a friend, for example, why not meet at the park where your child will be too busy playing to interrupt?

Other adults can also take turns paying attention to your child while you have a conversation.

Like many problems that come as a result of your child's limited attention span, you can keep your child from interrupting by offering a pleasant diversion.

Further, if you are going to be talking on the telephone, why not wait until your child is taking a nap?

Set an Example of Polite Behavior

As suggested, your child keeps interrupting because they don't understand that interrupting is a negative thing. They only want your attention.

Another way to keep your child from interrupting, then, is to set an example for them. If you interrupt and then say, "Sorry I interrupted you," you are teaching your child what it means to interrupt and how this can be avoided.

Even adults can interrupt sometimes. The point here is that your child can be taught about those things they should apologize for through your own personal demonstration.

Be Patient

Showing patience might not necessarily keep your child from interrupting. This patience, however, will offer you reasonable peace of mind as your child gradually learns the ropes of good behavior.

Just remember that your child deals with impatience and keeps interrupting because they need immediate attention.

In sum, there are things you can do when your child keeps interrupting. If you understand that your child wants to be at the center of your attention, you will be more likely to pursue a course of action that will either put an end to this behavior or at least give you some peace of mind regarding it.