Archived Weblog Entry - 07/27/2005: "Interrupting"

[Previous entry: "The Economist on Americanisms"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "August East Side Weblog Meetup"]

07/27/2005 Archived Entry: "Interrupting"

We are trying to work with (or on) grandson R----- to reduce the amount of interrupting he does. This is a bit more difficult because when he and I are alone together, I wouldn't classify his speaking as interrupting unless I'm on the phone.

So I did a bit of searching and came up with a few articles that gave me ideas:

Interrupting by Bethany Kientzel. "For example, you could say, 'I'm going to tell Daddy about going to the park today. Would you like to tell him about the park first?' Your toddler can then add whatever he would like to say: 'Slide, sand, swing,' etc.... When he is finished let him know that you are going to talk and that he will get another turn to talk when you are finished. It could go back and forth like that for quite a while. You may even be able to get in a good amount of your story." I tried this "taking turns" method the other day and it really helped, since R---- understands about taking turns.
Interrupting by Beth Haiken. Approved by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board! "Your 2-year-old thinks that the world and everything in it (including her parents) exists for her benefit. Not only that, but her short-term memory isn't well developed, which means your child's impulse to say things right now before she forgets actually has a physiological basis. Therefore, the very concept of interrupting makes no sense to your toddler."
Tips help tame toddler's interruption impulse by Harriet Webster. "Avoid 'because' statements. They imply cause and effect, which kids this age don't fully grasp. Instead of saying, 'I want you to play by yourself because I need to talk to Grandma,' give simple directions: 'You need to play by yourself right now. I need to talk to Grandma.' "
Interrupting from It's a Mom's World (no author named). Set a good example and don't interrupt the child; if you do, acknowledge the fact and apologize.

Maybe we could apply some of these strategies to adults in our life who interrupt us?

(tags: toddlers, interrupting)

Replies: 3 comments

Anita, I have a 9-year-old, and in the years since his toddlerhood I can't tell you HOW many times I have said, parenthood has made me a better manager at work ... I REALLY understand now how to deal with difficult people. When you've lived through kid tantrums, you can deal with any amount of grownup employee tantrums (or other difficult adult situations). Good luck!

Posted by pops' partner @ 07/31/2005 07:07 AM PST

The other evening when we were picking Jack up at work, I did the taking turns thing and let R---- go first. It was funny to see him when the spotlight was on! And it did reduce the repetition of "Nita! Dita!". I turned to him in the back seat several times during the drive and invited him to talk. I'll keep working on this!

Posted by Anita @ 07/28/2005 04:54 AM PST

I used the phrase, "Please let me finish, and then it will be your turn to talk." The books I read and used all assert that positive phrases work better on kids--they don't hear the "no" in "do not interrupt." Taking turns, however, makes sense far earlier than negative constructions do.

Posted by Kai Jones @ 07/27/2005 08:47 AM PST