Take our quiz
Your toddler has become such a chatterbox that every phone call compels her to talk louder so you'll pay attention to her. You:
A. Distract her while you're talking, then finish up quickly.
B. Send her to her room. That'll teach her not to interrupt!
C. Excuse yourself from the adult conversation and gently ask the child what she needs.
Answer: A
Learning to take turns talking and not interrupting is something we all have to master at some point. But we also have to know what a toddler is capable of -- and waiting until you're finished speaking with someone isn't a possibility for her. Instead, tell your child you'll be talking to this grown-up for a few minutes more and give her a choice of two distractions (any more will confuse her): a snack or coloring, for example.
Don't expect perfection, and keep a sense of humor. Deana Busch of Lake Forest, California, taught her 3-year-old daughter, Julie, to say "Excuse me" before interrupting her. "Now all I get is a loud 'Excuse me, Mommy!'" She employs distraction techniques like a bag of dry cereal for now until Julie's old enough to learn how to wait her turn.
