{"id":7003,"date":"2011-09-25T04:10:03","date_gmt":"2011-09-25T11:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/parentingtoday.com\/anew\/?page_id=7003"},"modified":"2019-07-23T16:40:04","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T23:40:04","slug":"interruptions-toddlers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/childdevelopmentinfo.com\/ages-stages\/toddler-preschooler-development-parenting\/interruptions-toddlers\/","title":{"rendered":"Handing Interrupting from your Toddler"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>by Elizabeth Pantley<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Author of the No-Cry Discipline Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re on the phone, busy on your computer, or talking to another adult, it can be frustrating when your children constantly interrupt you. What\u2019s surprising to learn is that they do it because they always get a response from you when they do! They\u2019ve learned that you are willing to stop what you\u2019re doing to answer them. Keep in mind that children are so focused on their own needs that they don\u2019t realize that you have needs, too. They can learn how to pay more attention to other people\u2019s needs as well as their own, which will help control these endless interruptions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Give lessons and examples<\/strong> \u00a0Teach your children how to determine if something warrants an interruption, as they may have a hard time deciphering when interruptions are justified.\u00a0 Discuss examples of when it\u2019s okay to interrupt, such as when someone is at the door, or if a sibling is hurt.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coach proper manners<\/strong> \u00a0Teach your child how to wait for a pause in the conversation and to say, \u201cExcuse me.\u201d When she remembers to do this, respond positively. If the interruption is about something that should wait, politely inform your child of this.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Don\u2019t<\/em> answer the question<\/strong>. \u00a0Many parents admonish kids for interrupting, but in the same breath respond to the child\u2019s interrupted request, which just reinforces the habit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch your manners<\/strong> \u00a0Parents sometimes jump in so quickly to correct their child\u2019s bad manners that they don\u2019t realize that the way in which their correction is delivered is itself rude. Use your own good manners to model appropriate communication skills. Pause, look at your child, and say, \u201cI\u2019ll be with you in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Teach \u201cThe Squeeze\u201d \u00a0<\/strong>Tell your child that if she wants something when you are talking to another adult, she should gently squeeze your arm. You will then squeeze her hand to indicate that you know she is there and will be with her in a minute. At first, respond quickly so your child can see the success of this method. Over time you can wait longer, just give a gentle squeeze every few minutes to remind your child that you remember the request.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Create a busy-box<\/strong> \u00a0Put together a box of activities or games that can only be used when you are on the telephone, working at your desk, or talking with an adult. Occasionally refill it with new things or rotate the contents. Be firm about putting them away when you are done. Your child will be look forward to your next conversation, which will be interruption free!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Plan ahead<\/strong> \u00a0Before you make a phone call or have a visitor, let your child know what to expect. \u201cI\u2019m going to make a phone call. I\u2019ll be a while, so let\u2019s get your busy box ready to use while I\u2019m on the phone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Give praise when deserved<\/strong> \u00a0Catching your child doing the right thing can be the best lesson of all. Praise your child for using good manners, for remembering to say \u201cexcuse me,\u201d and for interrupting only for a valid reason.<\/p>\n<p>Excerpted with permission by McGraw-Hill Publishing from The No-Cry Discipline Solution (McGraw-Hill 2007) by Elizabeth Pantley <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pantley.com\/elizabeth\">https:\/\/www.pantley.com\/elizabeth<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re on the phone, busy on your computer, or talking to another adult, it can be frustrating when your children constantly interrupt you. What\u2019s surprising to learn is that they do it because they always get a response from you when they do! They\u2019ve learned that you are willing to stop what you\u2019re doing to answer them. Keep in mind that children are so focused on their own needs that they don\u2019t realize that you have needs, too. They can learn how to pay more attention to other people\u2019s needs as well as their own, which will help control these endless interruptions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":7213,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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