Have you ever been talking to someone when your child suddenly jumps in with:
“Mom… mom… mom… MOM!”
Or maybe you’re explaining something and they start talking right over the top of you.
Most parents experience this at some point, and it can be frustrating. It can feel like your child simply isn’t listening or doesn’t understand that interrupting isn’t polite.
But the truth is, most children aren’t trying to be rude.
They simply haven’t learned the skill of waiting and listening yet.
And like many important life skills, it’s something that has to be taught and practiced.
Why children interrupt
Young children often live very much in the present moment.
When something pops into their mind, it feels urgent. They want to say it immediately before they forget it.
They’re also still learning how conversations work.
To an adult, it’s obvious that when someone else is speaking, we wait our turn.
But for children, this skill develops over time.
It’s not something they automatically understand.
A simple way to teach respectful listening
One simple approach that works well with younger children is to give them a clear signal for when it’s their turn to speak.
For example, if your child wants your attention while you’re talking to someone else, you can teach them to:
Place their hand gently on your arm.
This becomes their way of saying:
“I have something to tell you.”
When you feel their hand, you can place your hand over theirs to show that you’ve noticed them.
Then finish the conversation you’re having.
Once there’s a natural pause, you turn to them and say something like:
“Thank you for waiting. What did you want to tell me?”
This does two important things.
First, it teaches them that waiting is part of communication.
Second, it shows them that when they wait respectfully, they will be heard.
Why this works
Children learn behaviour through consistent experiences.
If interrupting works every time, they’ll continue interrupting.
But when they experience that waiting leads to being listened to, they begin to develop patience and respect for conversations.
It’s a small habit that can make a big difference over time.
Example
From the Academy
Many of the ideas we share come from years of working with children inside training sessions at SOLO Kids Academy.
Through martial arts training, children regularly practise skills like focus, listening, patience, and perseverance, not just in the Academy, but in everyday life as well.
Small skills like listening, patience, and focus are things children gradually develop through practice and guidance.
If you found this helpful, feel free to share the newsletter with another parent who might find it useful.
Darren 😄