How I can I get my 6 year old to talk less?

Question

My son is in kindergarten, very smart and chatty and wonderful, but lately he is driving me NUTS because he seriously never stops talking. For example, if he wants something at the table, he'll say "pass the ketchup" and before I can respond, "MOMMY; I need the ketchup, can you please give me the ketchup." Also, he interrupts people all the time, and no matter what he's doing, he just talks constantly, and even if he's not really trying to have a conversation he just lets his mouth run. He's almost never actually naughty or bratty, it's just that he thinks whatever is in his head should come out of his mouth, and when I ask him to be quiet, it usually only lasts a few seconds. How do you think I should approach this with him? (PS- apart from the interrupting he generally has good control of his manners, and he is very physically active but not disruptively so... so it seems like in other areas he doesn't have this same control problem.)

Answer 1

My son is 5 and in kindergarten as well.  He does the same thing.  It seems that most kids I know this age are little motor mouths that never stop talking.  I took a group of them in my van on a field trip a few weeks ago and they were all like that.  (It was actually rather cute to see how they interact).  But, I noticed the teachers get them to be quiet at times by telling them "lips and hips" which means to zip their lips and put their hands on their hips (and not touch anything).  This is when they are walking down the hallway.  It seems to work well for them.  I do this at home with my son when the baby is sleeping and it works pretty well.  We do have a terrible time with him interupting, but it sounds from your example that your son needs to learn a little patience as well.  Good luck,, I'm having a hard time teaching that to mine.

Answer 2

im currently going through this same thing with my 5 soon to be 6 yr old kindergarten daughter. its a phase. i admit it does somewhat annoy me that my daughter talks so much but then i think about how blessed i am to have a child who is healthy and intelligent and such a vibrant child so i foster and encourage the talking. i also think about when she's 15 and the last thing on earth she will want to do is talk to me and i will miss these moments. so let him talk. you'll cherish it later

Answer 3

i agree with chocolatebee.

i don't know if you've ever heard of the video series, "Growing Kids Gods Way." It is AWESOME!!! It's by Ezzo and Ezzo. We have a class on it through our church. But the talking thing is a lack of self control (i have a 5yr old,too....same thing everyone else is saying on here.) Anyways in the class they told us something that works to gain self control is to tell the child to simply fold their hands. And actually say, "ok lets go ahead and fold our hands to get self control." I tried it with a group of kids i work with at church and couldn't believe how well it worked. you might try that when it is an inappropriate time for your child to be speaking. Also, that class gives a great technique called the interrupt rule. It's when the child wants to say something to you and you are speaking to someone else. the child comes up to you, puts his/her hand on your arm, leg, hand....whatever. you then put your hand on top of his/hers to acknowledge..ok i know you are there. then when there is an appropriate point in your conversation you may say, excuse me, and then see what your child wants. we do this with our daughter and it works great. when we first started, we role played several times....we always role play what we expect her behavior to look like. and we also explained that it's important to use the interrupt rule because it shows other people respect. and when we dont' show respect we're being rude, and love is not rude (from the Bible 1cor13) we always back our stuff up with the Bible. i hope some of this helps!

Answer 4

suggest the child wait for you to answer -this will take practice.  learn to filter out the chatter.

Answer 5

I can't offer much of an answer...but I can def. offer my heartfelt sympathy!  We're having the same prob. with our four year old.  Like your son, he's so bright that I think he just thinks constantly and has decided that everything he thinks needs to come out of his mouth.

We have put our foot down on the interrupting though.  That's one of my pet peeves so I couldn't let that continue.  I explained to him that when he talks when others are talking, it isn't nice and it hurts peoples' feelings.  ("Rude" means nothing to a four year old).  When he starts to interupt, we remind him to wait his turn.  A reminder is usually all he needs.  If he keeps interupting, then we punish him.  I won't offer suggestions on "punishments"...that is a personal choice  for you and your spouse to make. :)

Good luck with your little "motor-mouth" and try not to pull your hair out....luckily I still have most of my hair!   Just kidding of course. :)

Answer 6

You should try and give him rewards when he is quiet or maybe a punishment when he does not listen to you.

Answer 7

he seems to have a want for attention that he can get by talking that he doesn't get other any other way. you are the adult teach him manners and patients and then you wont have to worry about it any more but just don't squelch his personality.

Answer 8

play the "quiet" game with him. if he stays quiet give him a prize