Seven Positive Discipline Strategies For the Constantly Interrupting Child

What to do with this obnoxious behavior of a constantly interrupting child?

Let’s think of a common scenario. Your best friend has come to town to spend the weekend with you and every time you start a conversation to catch up your four year old little one interrupts with his stories. In the beginning it is cute, and you let him win but there comes a time when both your friend and you are annoyed with this interrupting child. You feel embarrassed and angry at the same time.

The phone rings. You need to explain something important to your boss. Your child starts whining – he needs your full attention that very minute.

You have no private time to talk with your hubby. Your child constantly interrupts and needs attention.

You do give her attention and listen to her stopping your talks. So what's wrong? How can the obnoxious behavior of this interrupting child be broken?

Here are seven strategies that may work:

1.Understand the basic reason –

It is the sense of belonging - which is a natural human need. This manifests as attention grabbing at the wrong time which annoys us. Your child, especially a preschooler is typically ego centric. He is not capable of understanding others point of view. Like his smaller size, your preschooler child’s cognitive skill is also not as refined and matured as yours. With this understanding, you need to guide him gently.

2.Be kind and firm at the same time:

Explain to her that it is not polite to interrupt. The right thing to do is to wait your turn. Role model politeness with “excuse me”, “thank you” etc and give her feed back when she does it too. Establish that you will make her wait if she interrupts. And follow through. When you stop and let her win she gets misled and thinks that this manipulation will work. So be kind, and firm and just ignore her consistently when she demands negative attention.

3.Have some concrete solutions ready:

Have a special box with some interesting toys, art materials, puzzles, books or things that your child can keep him self busy with. Teach him that he may use them when he has to wait. You demonstrate that in the doctor’s office or other waiting period- by bringing your knitting project, magazines to read or journals to write. Be sure to change the contents of the box from time to time.

4.Touch – a silent language:

Let him know that if he needs something while you are busy with someone, instead of interrupting he may hold your arm or squeeze. You will understand the message and squeeze back.

5.Role Play :

Discuss scenarios when interrupting is necessary. Examples: a sibling is hurt, some one is at the door, you smell smoke or see something burning, etc. Make up more stories and see what he thinks. This pro active method may help and is fun for him.

6. Give him undivided attention at least one time in the whole day.

Let her choose which games to play or what book to read. Be really involved and have fun. When she understands that you genuinely enjoy her company, this attention grabbing habit will diminish. This is also a good time to discuss if she has any other ideas to handle this problem. What will she do next time when she has this urge to interrupt? Give him feed back on his success in near future. Involving him in the problem solving helps him feel important and powerful.

7.Let the message of love permeate:

Let him know from your words, actions and body language that you do feel annoyed with any interrupting child and also when he constantly interrupts, you just hate that behavior, but you do love him no matter what. You love the person he is. He is the one and the only one in the whole universe and you love that unique special one dearly.

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