My 4 year old son....?

Question

My 4 year old son is a wonderful little boy and I love him to death!!! But he constantly talks and interupts converations when I am speaking to others (especially my husband), otherwise he has great manners. I have told him time and time again that is very rude to interupt us or anybody else when we are talking, but it is like it goes in one ear and out the other. Sometimes it sticks, but then instead of interupting he will just be extremely loud. My husband and I have have tried to address it positivly with talks and time outs. But since it has been going so long, we are starting to get frustrated and quick to snap at him.
Does anybody else have this problem? If so, what do you do to make it "stick" in your childs mind that interupting others while they are talking/being loud when others are talking is bad manners and rude.

we do punish him....we stick his nose in the corner for 5 to 15 min. that doesn't even work....he just has to be the center of attention.

Answer 1

I had this problem with my 6 year old. I'd look at her and tell her she was interrupting and that its rude, then I'd tell her to stick her finger in front of her mouth and be quiet until I was finished. After the conversation was finished, I'd look at her and tell her she could remove her finger and that I didn't appreciate her rudeness. That other people's thoughts were just as important as hers and that we take turns talking in this house. If she did it again within the same hour, she's go to her room. It took months and was hard for her to learn, but she did. Just stay firm and don't let him get away with it.

Answer 2

I have a few ideas. I teach in a combined preschool/kindergarten and this is what I do. I tell them when they want to speak to me to put their hand on my shoulder or stand right next to me. I explain that I can see them out of the corner of my eye. I tell them the when they put their hand on my shoulder or stand next to me, I know that it means they need to speak to me and that as soon as I’m finished speaking with the person I am talking to then I can listen to them. When I am finished speaking to the first person, I get down to the child’s level and give them my undivided attention. It takes some practice but really works well. Try and do some modeling with your husband so he can practice.

He probably interrupts you so much because he is in need of attention, be it positive or negative, it is still attention. Find ways to show him more positive attention. Say things like “You did that by yourself! You stacked every block! You can run super fast! Look how high you can jump! You used so many colors on your painting!” These intrinsic rewards work much better then extrinsic rewards (“Good job!”, stickers, treats). They are great confidence builders, great ways to help him to feel powerful in a positive way, and great ways to show attention. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I had the same problem with my oldest son when he was that age. Whenever my son tried to interupt, I would look at him and say, "Mommy's talking right now, you'll have to wait your turn," or I would say, "You'll have to go play until I'm finished." Then, when it would be his turn, I made sure to have him say "excuse me" or "I'm sorry for interupting."

There's a book called "Creative Correction" it's by Lisa Whelchel. One thing she talks about in her book is how to handle a child who interupts. Good luck!

Answer 4

Try some consequence that will really affect him. Sit him down and tell him you will not interrupt us anymore. ask him what he thinks a consequence should be when doing this. agree upon one that will really remind him...something more than a time out...something that he would really not like. When he does interrupt ignore him and give him the punishment. Tell him that when he wants to speak to you while you are talking that he should gently put his hand on your side to let you know he wants to say something. Then acknowledge him when you are done with your sentence. Praise and reward him when he does this properly. Stick with it...be CONSISTENT and don't give up.

Answer 5

Oh we had that problem. And kids won't care too much if all you do is talk to them. You aren't giving any sort of consequence if they don't listen to you so why should they care. You need to come up with something that will happen if they're rude. With our kids we would send them to the corner and make them apologize for being rude. Generally at 4 that was enough to make them stop. Good luck!

Answer 6

Threaten to take away something he really likes, and when he does intterupt, say that if he waits a minute longer, he can have a treat. Bribery works with problems like that till they learn

Answer 7

Try picking him up and turning him to face in the other direction. He thinks (as all children do at that age) that he is the centre of the universe.

Answer 8

i have a younger cousin who is much worse then that..he just turned 7 u can b talking too some1 and he will keep callin u and turn your face to talk to him and he is also very loud...it is a child thing....he would get over it soon..

Answer 9

he just wants attention i think, so give it to him, my be he thinks that u dont love him anymore, u got to give it to him and if u let hm on ur convesations, and let him talk to maybe he will learn to be quite i dono really, but hope it workes tho, and good luck to u

Answer 10

thats how kids are, just be patient,,he will learn maybe give him somthing to keep him busy at the time...just be good to him...kids forget things fast so they want to tell you as soon as they can...