Name: ICHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-05T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-07T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Bourbonnais, IL

Tagged: interruption

This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by pianogirl363.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

Author
Posts
February 7, 2012 at 11:31 am
pianogirl363
Participant
I apologize in advance for the length of my question!
I am having a very difficult time helping my children learn the habit of listening when others speak and not interrupting. We have 5 children – 4 of them talking age (2 ½ to 8 ½). All four talkers are very gregarious, outgoing, friendly, and opinionated and because they read a lot, have LOTS to talk about. I find them interesting to listen to and others usually do as well.
Our 6 year old daughter has some sensory processing issues that make it difficult for her to tune in appropriately to others’ conversations. She tends to block things out and so therefore, when she has a thought that she wants to share, she just “bursts in” whenever the thought enters her mind. She honestly doesn’t realize until after she has spoken that someone else is already talking. We are working on her sensory processing issues with different activities and interventions, so that’s not what I’m so concerned about.
The problem is that her two younger siblings, ages 2 ½ and 4, and even her older sister have picked up this habit that she has and constantly interrupt other people when they are talking. I’m not talking about once in a while. I’m talking about incessant interrupting.
They interrupt each other, my husband and I at the table, guests (they are especially bad when they are excited about guests being over), and even adult strangers that we are meeting for the first time. All four of them speak over each other and over the adults in the conversation without ceasing.
I feel as though whenever we have a conversation, especially with someone outside of our family, I am constantly putting out little fires and saying “So and so – listen! Grandma’s talking!”, etc.
I’m pretty baffled as to what to do because as far as children go, my children are very considerate of others in many other ways. I see in their daily behavior them trying to show love to their siblings and others outside of our family. They don’t seem to realize that by speaking over someone else, they are not being considerate of that person, even though we talk about this often.
Short of making a rule that children may not speak unless spoken to (which I’m really hesitant to do), I have not been successful in trying to curb this behavior. I’ve tried sending the offender from the room to play by themselves and having the child sit next to me. The problem is that if I’m working on stopping the behavior in one child, the other 3 just fill in the void that the one child has left!
I will mention that I know that it’s possible for them to be quiet because they sit quietly for church services (up to 2 hours), during Quiet Time in the afternoon (1 hour) and when we go places like the doctor’s office, etc.
I would really appreciate any insight into how I can help my children to be more pleasant to be around and how our home can be a more peaceful place. I love my children and I don’t want to stifle their opinions and contributions to the family. But the craziness just needs to stop! (or at least slow down a bit) 🙂
Thanks in advance,
~Anna
February 7, 2012 at 3:04 pm
2flowerboys
Participant
We have the same problem here too! And are desperate for help! I too have a sensory child who talks non-stop! He even talks in his sleep!!! LOL!
I really cannot stand the interruptions and try to explain how rude it is. I explain that they don’t like to be interrupted themselves. But nothing sinks in!
February 7, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Laura.bora
Participant
Well, we don’t have any sensory issues over here…just children who like to interrupt! So not sure if this would work for your family, but we have had great success when they interrupt, by having them put a hand over their mouth with a gentle reminder that it isn’t polite to interrupt and this scripture: If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth! Proverbs 30:32
They’re kids, they still interupt, but that physical reminder has made it much less frequent.
February 7, 2012 at 4:16 pm
mom
Participant
What about a reward to the most courteous within a set time? Like, we will be visiting Grandma for an hour…those of you who can refrain from speaking over another person will get a treat. Start with small segments of time instead of dealing with the habit as a whole.
February 7, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Rachel White
Participant
I like the clamping the hand over the mouth.
When we’re having a bout of rudeness, I require the offenders to raise their hands (no noises) for the rest of the day and they must wait to be called upon. Also, for talking over one another, require whispering.
My dd also has Sensory disorder, however, she’s still expected to learn politeness and self-control; it just makes it harder, but that doesn’t mean impossible. If I give her the excuse that the same standard of consideration doesn’t apply, then she would take that “label” and not try her fullest. The world will not treat her with kid gloves over social awkwardness, so she might as well have the same expectations at home and just determine what she needs to do, a technique-whatever-as an individual, she has to figure out how to control her outbursts.
Unfortunately, my husband is the worst offender in this area and I can’t make him raise his hand
February 7, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Katrina in AK
Participant
Wow-this is a great reminder for ME! I’m the one who randomly bursts in with very unconnected thoughts in a conversation. Maybe I should tattoo Proverbs 30:32 on the palm of my hand, so I can read it as I clap my hand over my mouth? Really, this is great timing. Thanks!
February 7, 2012 at 8:09 pm
pianogirl363
Participant
I really appreciate you sharing your ideas with me, ladies!
Laura – I don’t recall reading that Proverb before, but I’ll be using it now! Thanks!
“mom” – That’s a good idea to work on being courteous for a set amount time at first. I’m more of an all-or-nothing type of person, and that doesn’t really work that well in the area of habit training and discipline. My daughter once had a quote for her copywork that said this: “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier. I would be wise to remember this when I’m working on the habit of listening and not interrupting!
Rachel – I totally agree with you on the sensory issue aspect. In my original post, I did not mean to imply that I have a different standard for my 6-year old, although reading it back, it does sound that way. I only mentioned it because I think that is where my other children have picked up the habit from. My husband and I generally do not interrupt when others are talking, so I really don’t think they are imitating us. Thank you for your reminder.
~Anna