My 4 year old son cannot handle whenever I’m talking to anyone that is not him; my other children, his educators at child care, other family members etc. He keeps interrupting, then proceeds to hit and punch me and then starts crying in a frustrated manner. I’m at my wits end. I ask him to stop, i tell him that I’m talking but it doesn’t work I’ve tried putting him in his bedroom if we are at home when he behaves like this but he just keeps coming out.
Anyone else experienced this with their child? Any ideas or suggestions please. Thank you.
Constant interruptions
Constant interruptions
Posted in:
Kids
7 Replies
Have you tried talking to him about it afterwards, alone?
I find that when my son acts out in public (he is 3), I usually chat about it in the car to him. Something alone the lines of “it makes me so upset and mad/angry when you interrupted me while I was talking to your teacher. I know you have missed me but I needed to talk to your teacher before we left. Don’t do that again, because I feel really angry now.. I have finished talking to your teacher now. What about we have a chat now? How was your day/what are we going to do this afternoon?”
I usually find rambling about how he made me feel by his behaviour helps him realise that it’s frustrating for us. And now in turn, he usually tells me all about his feels when I make him angry or upset, which is good for our relationship
Thanks :) yes I have tried to talk to him about his behaviour and how much it makes me angry because I need to talk to other people and his interruptions constantly and crying don’t help. It just goes in one ear and out the other :(
This might sound strange but I’ve had full blown melt downs in the car after my boy threw a massive embarrassing tantrum in public.. and he was so horrified at my melt down that he hasn’t done it again.. touch wood. I got the kids in the car and then just balled my eyes out, he was stuck in his seat and I was in the front, he couldn’t comfort me but just had to sit there and watch me cry... I know it’s extreme but I’d had a terrible week and I told him how upset that made me feel that he carried on and screamed in the shops.
It gets to that point sometimes. It’s incredibly embarrassing as a parent to have that happen when out and about with your children. Understand completely
When he does it get down on us level and firmly say "I see you want to talk to me but you need to wait, I am talking to Mrs X right now" and don't even acknowledge him til you're done . Then you can say "I am done, now we can chat".
That way he'll feel heard but also know he has to wait. It'll take some serious perseverance but he'll get it eventually if you're consistent.
Also, don't allow his siblings to interrupt him. And praise him when you notice ie. "Thank you for waiting so patiently while I talked to your brother. Would you like to talk now?"
Try a visual object like a stick or something and label it “the talking stick”. Tell him that when he is holding the stick it is his turn to talk. This might reinforce your explanation that he has to wait for his turn to speak and not interrupt. This will teach him valuable skills of turn-taking in conversation. When he is holding the stick and talking ensure that no-one interrupts him then give him verbal praise for this positive behaviour.
Thank you. I was told this the other day by an expert in the field and it is a great idea I think.