How to get 7 yo DS to stop interrupting

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old constantly interrupts me and my husband when we are talking to each other or to other adults. Looking for advice on strategies for how to teach him to stop interrupting. It is driving us nuts. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

When he interrupts, just calmly tell him that you are talking to so-and-so, finish your conversation, and then say, "So, you had something you wanted to say to me?" You should only have to repeat this about 10,000 times before it sinks in.

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem with 6 y/o DD. It makes me want to scream. I've had talks with her about waiting but to no avail.

When it happens I will keep talking to whomever without making eye contact with DD and I'll hold up one finger (indicating that she should wait a minute). I won't respond to anything DD says and won't end the conversation.

When the conversation is over I'll explain that when I'm speaking and she has something to say to me that I need her to wait patiently until I'm done. When she actually does it I make a HUGE deal out of it.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you had your child tested for ADHD? That is one of the signs. My DD used to do that all the time and I had her tested for other reasons and was told constantly talking over and interrupting others is a symptom of ADHD.

[Anonymous]

My DH does this (clearly related to previously diagnosed ADD) but non ADD DD (7 y/o) also does this because she thinks nothing anyone else is saying could possibly be as important as anything she has to say.

[Anonymous]

I will pay money for the solution to this one.

It was one of my Things, pre-kids. Hate when kids interrupt. So from their very first word, I have been drilling the wait your turn, don't interrupt, I'm talking with grandma and I'll be with you in a minute. I have never indulged an interruption unless there was blood visible. Six years in, NO effect. *sigh*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you had your child tested for ADHD? That is one of the signs. My DD used to do that all the time and I had her tested for other reasons and was told constantly talking over and interrupting others is a symptom of ADHD.

Oh my goodness. It's developmental, not ADD. While it could be something that is also ADD, not everything that's annoying also needs a label. Most kids I know go through this at one point or another. If it gets bad enough (and other suggestions are good!) I send mine to his room and then invite him out to try again when my conversation is over. That helped break the cycle. GL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When it happens I will keep talking to whomever without making eye contact with DD and I'll hold up one finger (indicating that she should wait a minute). I won't respond to anything DD says and won't end the conversation.
.

This is what I do and it has worked to an extent with my boys (7 and 5). They still interrupt but they know what the finger means and they do not insist and are generally pretty patient about waiting. Keep hoping the message will sink in completely and they won't interrupt at all!

[Anonymous]

Ignore her. Talking to her, even if you are admonishing her, gives her positive reenforcement through the attention.

[Anonymous]

I keep talking but hold my pointer finger up toward the child (as in, "Wait."). If they continue, I say, "Just a moment, I'm still talking."

And the ADHD post is annoying. Not everything is a disorder. In fact, most things aren't but the drug manufacturers don't want us spreading that around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignore her. Talking to her, even if you are admonishing her, gives her positive reenforcement through the attention.

This. I tilt my hand up, as a stop. But I do not engage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore her. Talking to her, even if you are admonishing her, gives her positive reenforcement through the attention.

This. I tilt my hand up, as a stop. But I do not engage.

Me too. Every parent struggles with this to some degree.

[Anonymous]

This is a phase that they go through, trust me it will pass. This is my strategy. If my 8 year is sitting close to me while I am in a conversation and she attempt to interrupt I will excuse her and myself and talk to her. I sometimes tell her ahead of time. So she is aware. I will say honey if you have anything you have that cannot wait them you can interrupt it got to be very important, then I will give her examples of important things that will call for interruption. She sometimes attempt to interrupt and I will give her that wide stare and then she will stop. You will need to fine a que that will work for both of you.

[Anonymous]

Does this advice apply to kids who want to be part of a grow up conversation and keep asking 'what' and interrupting? I will either say 'its between adults' to my own kid (if it really is none of their business). Or I will say I will tell you later.

If its not my kid though, I say nothing and ignore and let his/her parent deal with it. Which often times ends up with a long winded explanation on stuff that is irrelevant to them (and frankly stops the whole conversation). This bugs me...why do this? Maybe I am missing something?

[Anonymous]

You have to explain why we don't interrupt, rather then ignoring him and hoping it gets better. Chances are, if you ignore him he'll become more persistant about it.

"We don't interrupt others, wait a minute" or "wait your turn". Then when it is his turn, "thanks for waiting. What is it you wanted to tell me?"

You need to model the same behavior as well.

Allow interruptions if someone is bleeding or if something is on fire. Otherwise, they need to wait.