Managing Kids Who Interrupt
"Mommy, Billy won't give me my doll!" You're on the phone with the doctor and the kids are fussing. You've been expecting this call for days and yet, the kids need your help - right now! What to do?
Most kids think nothing of interrupting their parents, regardless of the situation. And their parents don't seem to do much to discourage it.
But, consider this: every time you allow your youngster to interrupt a conversation you are having with another person, you violate several common courtesies.
- First, you teach your child that interrupting is okay, encouraging more of the same.
- Second, you show that it is acceptable for you to abruptly interrupt your conversation without a courteous transition.
- Third, you risk offending the person you are talking to. Now, interrupting adults may not be one of the worst offences children commit, but it certainly is one of the most common. Here's a very effective and graceful way to handle this challenge. It's actually very simple.
When your child wants your attention, teach her to stand quietly beside you, holding her hand on your hand or arm until you can gracefully ask the person you are talking with to excuse you for a moment. Now you can give a brief, but orderly moment of attention to her needs.
With this simple, but thoughtful social grace, you teach respect in four important ways:
- First, you teach her to respect you...and what parent doesn't need more respect?
- Next, you teach her to respect the person you are talking with, whether adult or child.
- Then, you have helped her teach respect to anyone who is watching.
- Finally, you teach her to respect herself as she follows a higher way of living. Of course, you will need to practice this procedure a number of times before she uses it. And, if your child fails to use her new tool, practice some more...after the fact, of course.
Now, imagine the respect and admiration of your friends as they see how you and your child handle this common challenge of childhood!