What do you do with a very bright 10 yr old child who talks non-stop?

Question

He either asks questions, or rambles on about anything and everything, and will also interrupt adult conversation to ask what we are talking about. He also doesn't pay attention some of the time when you do answer his questions. Some other children deal with it fine, but others want to strangle him. I don't know what to do...any advice is welcomed!

Answer 1

It's not always convenient & it can get on your nerves, but mostly you just thank god for your bright & beautiful son & try to answer as many of his questions as possible!!! You can't give him too much info at this stage - his mind is growing & he's learning at a phenomenal rate, so try to be as patient as possible. Since he's 10, he is old enough to take instructions; sit him down & explain that he simply can not interrupt adults when they are talking, he's old enough to understand the concept of "rude". Develop a sign or signal to let him know that he can't interrupt - when my kids try, I hold up one finger & they know, be quiet, don't interrupt. Also, let him know when he's rambling - don't try to squash him, but tell him firmly, Okay, time to haul it in a little bit buddy, be quiet for a few minutes, you're rambling now. He'll get the message & if you consistently tell him these things, the two of you will work it out. He will do better for the discipline & you will have more patience.
As for other kids, you said it - they will deal with him. He'll have to learn to adapt; they'll have to learn to accept him. Get him books! anything with lots of question & answers!! He'll thrive on whatever information you give him! Take him to the library on a regular basis & watch educational programs with him - but begin teaching him to discipline himself now, so he won't make you nuts! Good luck & enjoy him - he's gonna grow up too fast & believe it or not, you'll miss his rambling & chatter!!!

Answer 2

While it may not hurt to investigate ADHD, in the case of a bright child, it may just be a combination of boredom & a mind that's racing with lots of ideas and questions.

Age 10 is old enough to talk to him about the problem, explaining that even if he doesn't mean to be, interrupting, not listening to the answer when you've asked a question, and monopolizing a conversation are all considered rude.

You can practice around home working all those issues... we make our kids take a breath after asking a question, make eye contact, and repeat back what we've said. As others have said, it's also important to learn not to interrupt adults...or at least to do so politely! ("Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt..." )

It's possible some of the rambling is poor social skills and nervousness...verbal jitters. He may be uncomfortable about how to interact with others. Role playing can help with the rambling as well as the monopolizing conversations...Pretend you are a friend and practice social chit-chat with him. In real life situations, you can tell him to play a game with himself and try to come up with 3 new things he didn't previously know about the person he's talking with (he'll have to pay attention and ask questions). If he has a close friend that he trusts, your son can enlist his help and ask him to kindly let your son know when he's rambling &/or not listening in order to help him become a better friend.

Some other things that might help, in addition to the ideas previously mentioned here, are making sure he's getting enough focused, one on one attention from you and giving him a journal to write down his ideas and questions.

Answer 3

You really need to let your child know that this is annoying people. My son goes to afterschool care with a kid like that and this kid has a very hard time making friends which just makes it worse, interrupting and forcing his way into groups of kids; the boys father has never one told his son correct behaviour in a group even though the caregivers have spoken to his father many times. Look at the diet your child is eating. Sugared cereal for breakfast? Candy, cookies and cakes after school? Ice Cream after dinner? Maybe a lot of caffeine.

Sounds like your kid needs an outlet. Art, music, sports, reading and writing can all be ways for your son to let this energy out.

As far as interrupting adult conversation...do not feel bad about reprimanding him in front of the adults and letting him know that it is rude and unnecessary to interrupt an adult conversation, that the conversation is for adults only (in some cases) or if he just listened he would get the concept of the conversation. If he is having a hard time grasping the concept of the conversation then the conversation may be too adult for him anyway.

Good luck.


Addition: I just had another idea that I actually got from one of my favorite movies, Mame. Give the kid a pad to write down all his questions and then you can answer them one by one. That way the kid learns to respect adult conversation but will also get an answer to his questions, and asking is very important for a child. But as far as the other kids go, if you really want to spare the kid some really hurtful abuse then I would seriously try to teach him that consistant chattering is annoying and to choose his words carefully, think about what he is going to say before he speaks. And defintaley get him a note book, and maybe a journal as well.

One more little thing, if you think your child may be ADHD/ADD try your hardest to NOT put him on medication. Try diet changes and relaxation exercises first. Most people can learn to slow their minds down so they can concentrate on one or two things at a time. And doctors never know exactly what med will work, they do trial and error and they can really damage if not proprely dispensed. Be careful and good luck!!!!!

Answer 4

he needs to learn that he shouldn't inturupt an adult onversation unless he is hurt. you should sit him down and tell him that that is rude, and then next time he does it let him know he's being rude and then don't talk to him. when he starts to get annoying send him away.

as far as asking questions there is nothing that you can do about it and it might just be a good thing. the kids with the good GPA's in highschool and college and the ones who asked lots of questions when they were kids.

another thing that might work is when i was younger i use to ramble, and usually i was ramblng about myself. i don't know if he does that or not, but i got a reward everytime i went a whole day without saying the word "I"

it also sounds like he might be a little ADD... you could have him tested, but i don't think kids need meds unless it's real bad.. ofcourse you're the parent so that's all up to you.

good luck with your son! i hope this helps!

Answer 5

I have a 9 yr old girl who is very much like this. I usually tell her right in front of other adults that she is being rude by interrupting. Don't be afraid to embarrass him by disciplining him in front of others, sometimes I the embarrassment makes the lesson stick even more. Your son sounds very bright and energetic, just like my daughter. Do you have an encyclopaedia, either in books or on disc? Perhaps you could get him to write down all his questions and research the answers for himself. Sometimes I make up little note cards with 10 things on them that are tricky to find. Keep one or two in your pocket and when he gets too inquisitive give him a notecard and say, Find these. (Don't bring them home if they're yucky, LOL). Like mini scavenger hunts. But be careful, sometimes kids can wander when they get lost in their own mind. I gave my daughter strict parameters in which to search (ie no farther than the ends of the street). just a thought. Good luck!

Answer 6

My middle child is similar to that. She just turned five so I cant really ask her to do this yet, but it is something I considered. Have him write. Write what you may ask.....anything and everything. If he has questions while you are busy, ask him to write them down so that you can answer them later. Have him write his ramblings down...they may turn into some very interesting poetry or story lines. If he is able to find another outlet for all this conversation that seems to be going on in his mind, perhaps it will not only calm him down, but turn this irritation into something positive. I havent had a chance to try this yet, but it sounds like it might work. Let me know if you try it and how it goes!

Luck!

Answer 7

Talk to him about it. he'll probably keep doing it for a while, but he needs to understand what times to ask are more appropriate. Try giving him a notepad and whenever he wants to know the answer to a question he can write it down and you can talk to him one on one at a later time. If you want you can even make a question box for him. Make some type of mild penalty for him when he interrupts: have him arrange a large stack of books in alphabetical order, or I don't know, make him clean something. Something you deem appropriate that is rational to boot. When he interrupts say something like "you're interrupting" in that "remember what i said about interrupting" voice. if he doesn't catch on just say, "let's talk about this later, alright?" or "write it down for me, mommy's busy." you know, but make it in your own style. Eventually he'll catch on, have his questions answered, and no hostility, everyone wins.

Answer 8

I have a four year old just like that. I was just wondering if your son is an only child? I call this the only child syndrom. LOL I will be reading the rest of the answers posted, because I have the same problem with my little chatter box as well.

Answer 9

Set up a special time with him to talk, let him know that this is his time to tell you waht he has to say and ask his questions, make sure to give him pleanty of time to do so, this should help him to understand that he can not interupt adult time, but also let him know what important things he can interupt with at other tomes, like if he has had someting bad happen to him or he is scared. You will get though this.

Answer 10

If that doesn't sound like Attention Deficity Hyperactive Disorder, I don't know what does.

here is a link to see the symptoms of childhood ADHD

*also, another thing...most of the children with this disorder are extremely bright.