Is it unreasonable to expect an almost 6 and almost 5 yr old to be quiet or go upstairs when i am on the telephone?

[lovebooks999]

i do not know. I know it annoys the hell out of me. I am hardly ever on the telephone but when I am they will deliberately make a noise, even though i will say beforehand i am phoning someone and what do they need to do. normally the calls are very short and I try to make them when they are out.

when we phone grandparents i also like to speak to them for a few minutes but it is immediately spoiled by the two of them messing about. i have asked them to go to their room if they do not want to speak (or skype) but they do not do that.

i see their behaviour as unreasonable and become angry with them t maybe everyone is going to tell me it is too much to expect of children this age.

I normally use my mobile so will leave the room if there is too much noise

ie they need to be quiet when i am on the phone.

What are the consequences of their behaviour?
How do you deal with it so that they learn not to do it?

That would really annoy me too.

Personally I think you're asking a bit much.. they're little kids. Use a mobile or get a cordless handset.

They're too young IMO.

I don't think they're too young. DSS2 has been quiet on command since he was about three and a half.

Am I Captain Von Trapp?

I expected and got the same from mine from toddlerhood.

They are definitely not too young!

def not too young. mine were quiet when needed for phone calls at that age. I am presuming they are quiet when needed or asked for periods of time in school? if they can do it then they can do it at home.

would second the consequences question. What happens if they are not quiet? If they are are do they get rewarded? I would emphsise the reward side so they can get some practice at being quiet and see a benefit to it.

No they're not too young. In school there will be times when they're expected to be quiet so should be possible at home too.

I don't think they're too young at all. I work from home so from a very early age my DC know that they have to be quiet when i'm on the phone and that they mustn't answer it at all.

No!
But I'm still wandering round the house with the hands free, avoiding noisy 12&15y DDs, they still don't get it, grrrr

Not unreasonable, but probably unreasonably optimistic. Phone your parents back after the little ones are asleep if you want an uninterrupted chat to save yourself the frustration.