My Child Won't Stop Interrupting
Behavior- “I can see you have something important to say. Hold that thought — I'll come back to you in one minute.
- “Your brain works fast and wants to share right now. Let's practice: squeeze your fist to hold the thought.
- “I want to hear your idea. And [other person] needs to finish theirs. Your turn is coming.
- “That was a hard wait and you did it. What did you want to tell me?
“Stop interrupting!”
They often don't realize they're doing it. Impulsivity means the words are out before awareness catches up.
“Wait your turn — how many times do I have to say this?”
Repetition shaming implies they're choosing not to learn. They're not — their brain's impulse control is genuinely delayed.
“Nobody wants to hear you talk all the time.”
Devastating. Links their natural expressiveness to social rejection.
“Be quiet.”
Silencing the child rather than redirecting teaches them their voice doesn't matter.
Interrupting is one of the most visible ADHD symptoms in social settings — and one of the most misunderstood. It's not rudeness; it's impulsivity combined with working memory weakness. The child interrupts because (1) the thought feels urgent and (2) they genuinely fear they'll forget it if they wait. Giving them a physical strategy ('squeeze your fist to hold it') externalizes the memory task. Promising 'your turn is coming' reduces the urgency. And praising the wait after it happens reinforces the skill that's hardest for them.
Practice 'conversation turns' during low-stakes moments — like dinner. Use a physical object (a talking stick, a salt shaker) to make turn-taking visible and concrete. This builds the skill without the pressure of real social consequences.
If your child interrupts with something genuinely off-topic and random, that's their ADHD brain making an association you can't see. Instead of 'that has nothing to do with what we're talking about,' try 'interesting — what made you think of that?' You'll often discover a creative connection.
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