Not now darling, mummy's talking.

[BroccoliSpears]

I have a 21 month old. Consequently, I haven't finished a sentence, let alone a conversation, in months.

At what age / stage do you think it's appropriate to gently start to teach them not to interrupt when mummy's talking?

And how would / did you do it?

Or do you not think it's ever appropriate?

[S1ur]

Good question.

I have a 3 1/2 year and a 18m

They both interupt me in various ways. I explain to my older one about waiting for a pause in the conversation then saying something polite like, excuse me. She remembers, occasionally, but it is a learning curve

I do however then, actually listen to her which I think some adults forget to do.

My younger one, I say the words but don't really expect anything yet!

[Astrophe]

Hmmm, can't quite remember when we started. I think after two though. I have a DS who is almost 2, and if I really can't listen now I will tell hi to wait, but he just continues repeating the word/sentence until I pay attention!

My DD is almost 4. She has been saying "excuse me Mummy" since ??? 2 1/2? 3 years??? And now I am trying to teach her that saying "excuse me" doesn't give her free rein to speak.

We are teaching her to put her hand on my/DHs arm if she wants to say something, then wait, and then when I look at her she needs to say "excuse me". She definately understands what to do, and is getting better at it, although she still forgets of course.

I think I'll use this much earlier with my DS - maybe start at 2 1/2 ish with the hand on the arm thing, as its working well.

I think you have to expect to be interupted - probably for years to come tbh, but equally, I think its very good for them to be taught to wait.

hth

[Psychomum5]

oh yes, I tell mine that mummy is talking and to wait. altho, mine are upwards from 5, so I expect them to listen!

I started them from tiny tho....even if it was just to say 'wait', and then to tell them. I also told them to wait if I was on the phone!

I have taught them to wait tho from about 2yrs....maybe younger tho, as for DC1 she would have been 2 and then the others would have heard me say from birth!

I do also tell them to say...."excuse me mummy" if and when I am speaking. it means that I know that they want me, rather than hearing the 'muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummy' winge, and so I respond rather than ignore.

no age tho is the perfect age....you just try something and then realise the best age for them is the age they start to listen to you!!!!

[BroccoliSpears]

Yes, I should have phrased the question differently...

"At what age / stage do you think it's appropriate to gently start to teach them not how to interrupt when mummy's talking?"

The hand on arm thing is a good idea.

[mollymawk]

This is not useful advice at all but I am reminded of a story a workmate told me about her son, aged about 5.
She was visiting a friend with DS and had told DS in advance that he must not interrupt when she was talking. So she and friend were having a nice chat and after a while DS interrupted with something he wanted to tell her.
Workmate: DS, I told you not to interrupt me when I am talking but to wait until I stop.
DS: But Mummy, you never stop talking!

[Wendyjayb]

I use that phrase with ds now, he's 2.3. He's started to use the "excuse me" phrase which does sound better than the winny of mummy all the time