The truth is, most two year olds have very little grasp of the concept of interrupting at all. While your child is tugging on your sleeve, demanding your attention, he or she has no idea that your telephone conversation is actually important.
That’s because, to your two year old, you, and everyone else in his or her life, exist only for him or her. Your child does not understand that you have things that are important to you too, or that he or she needs to wait until those are attended to. This is normal behaviour at this age, and it’s not about your child being naughty or selfish – it’s just how two year olds are. The best thing is to simply tolerate the behaviour for now (your child will improve by three or four years old) and to try and work around it.
Choosing the right location for meetings with friends or others – like a park, where your child can play while you talk – is one strategy that should let you get around this problem.
Taking turns to socialise, work or do anything else with your partner, is another way to make sure you get a little uninterrupted time. You could read books about not interrupting, or you could simply schedule telephone calls or meetings for times when your child is napping, at day care, or visiting his or her grandmother.
It can be frustrating when your child interrupts every conversation you have with anyone – however, a little patience will go a long way. Take heart in the fact that in a year or two, your child will be more independent, and better equipped not to do this all the time.
That’s because, to your two year old, you, and everyone else in his or her life, exist only for him or her. Your child does not understand that you have things that are important to you too, or that he or she needs to wait until those are attended to. This is normal behaviour at this age, and it’s not about your child being naughty or selfish – it’s just how two year olds are. The best thing is to simply tolerate the behaviour for now (your child will improve by three or four years old) and to try and work around it.
Choosing the right location for meetings with friends or others – like a park, where your child can play while you talk – is one strategy that should let you get around this problem.
Taking turns to socialise, work or do anything else with your partner, is another way to make sure you get a little uninterrupted time. You could read books about not interrupting, or you could simply schedule telephone calls or meetings for times when your child is napping, at day care, or visiting his or her grandmother.
It can be frustrating when your child interrupts every conversation you have with anyone – however, a little patience will go a long way. Take heart in the fact that in a year or two, your child will be more independent, and better equipped not to do this all the time.
