You are speaking to someone and suddenly hear:
“Mumma!”
“Papa!”
“Listen to me!”
Young children often interrupt because waiting is still difficult. They may feel excited, worried they will forget what they want to say or simply want immediate attention.
Teach what to do instead
Rather than only saying:
“Don’t interrupt.”
show your child what they can do.
For example:
Put a hand gently on your arm.
Wait for a pause.
Say “Excuse me” when something is important.
Wait until you finish one sentence.
Practise when nobody is upset
Role-play at home.
Pretend you are talking to another adult and let your child practise waiting.
Keep the waiting time short at first.
Young children are still developing attention and self-control, so expectations should be realistic.
Notice when they wait
When your child waits even briefly, say:
“Thank you for waiting until I finished talking.”
Specific praise helps them understand what behaviour you want repeated.
When should they interrupt?
Teach children that urgent situations are different.
If someone is hurt, they feel unsafe or there is an emergency, they should speak up immediately.
💚 Earlyhood Parent Tip
Don’t teach only “Don’t interrupt.”
Teach the replacement behaviour:
“Wait, touch my arm and I’ll turn to you as soon as I can.”
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics – Communication & Discipline