Here’s a tough lesson to learn for kids and adults. It’s not always about you and it’s important to show respect to others. One way we can do that is to learn to not interrupt others.
Does your child know what interrupting means? Start by explaining it’s when two people are talking and all of a sudden, without any respect for their conversation, you hijack their attention and start firing away questions. I know that I often assume my children know what a trait means when they actually don’t. In teaching to not interrupt, you also teach the character trait of patience.
What does interrupting mean?
When two people are talking, it is usually acceptable to walk up to them and stand in their vicinity. If they indicate that they are having a private conversation, which sometimes we adults have to do, stand back until they indicate you can talk. Practice this with your children at home.
Teach them to not just blurt out what they need as soon as they approach you. That is super rude.
A great idea is to teach them to place their hand on your shoulder or knee. That way you know they are there, and they know that you know. This allows you to wrap up your conversation naturally before helping your child. Remember their age when you make them wait. A 5 year old is not going to be able to wait more than a minute or two. In my house, neither is a teenager.
There are times when waiting is not a good thing. Timmy is drowning; the stroller is rolling down the hill; Joey has cut his head badly. At this point, you’ll want to skip that step I suspect. But you need make sure they understand the difference.
Discuss with your parents an acceptable way that you can let them know you need to speak to them when they are talking. •
Discuss situations where it would be acceptable to interrupt. • For three weeks demonstrate how not to interrupt.
This skill has been featured as Skill Of The Week
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