Why Kids Interrupt (and What to Do About It)

If you’ve ever found yourself mid-sentence only to be cut off by a wildly excited story about Minecraft, a snack request, or a suddenly urgent need to tell you what their teacher said in class today, you’re not alone.

Interrupting is one of the most common and misunderstood behaviors in kids. It’s easy to see it as rude or attention-seeking, especially when you’re trying to hold a conversation or finish a task. But often, what looks like defiance is really development in progress.

Why Kids Interrupt: What Their Behavior Is Really Telling You

So why do kids interrupt? The short answer: because their brains are still growing.The deeper answer? Because it meets a need.

Every behavior — even the ones that drive us a little bit bonkers — is meeting one of our six core human needs:

• The need for connection

• The need for significance

• The need for certainty (I’ll be heard)

• Or even variety (I'm bored, let’s change the energy)

When your child interrupts, they’re often trying to meet one or more of these needs right now, in the only way they know how.

They’re not trying to be disrespectful — they’re trying to be relevant. To stay connected. To make sure their voice still fits in the room.

Young children are still learning how to hold a thought without the fear of it disappearing. Their impulse control isn’t broken — it’s under construction. And in their developing brains, the message is often:“If I don’t say it now, I might forget. Or miss my chance. Or you might not care by the time I do.”

Real-Life Reset: “Brain Freeze!”

Helping kids pause — without losing their spark.

You’ll need:

Just your voices — and a bit of imagination.

Optional: A silly prop like a pretend “freeze” crown, sunglasses, or even a spatula (because why not?)

How it works:

1. Tell your child they’re part of the Interrupting Investigator Squad and their mission is to spot the moment they feel the urge to interrupt.

2. When they notice the impulse, they call out: “Brain Freeze!”

3. Then they press an imaginary pause button on their forehead (dramatic flair encouraged!) and hold the thought.

4. When it’s their turn to talk, they say: “Unfreezing now!” and proudly share what they remembered.

   
   

Bonus Challenge:

If they manage three successful “brain freezes” in a day, they earn a reward — a sticker, a game, or even the honor of choosing what’s for dinner.

Why it works:

It gives kids language and structure around impulse control, builds self-awareness, and makes the pause feel playful, not punitive.

Interrupting isn’t a sign that something’s wrong with your child; it’s a sign that something is still growing. The goal isn’t perfect silence or robotic patience. The goal is progress. Self-awareness. Emotional regulation. And the ability to pause, without losing their spark.

So next time your child jumps in mid-sentence, try not to see it as a power struggle to win, but as a moment to guide, connect, and grow.

And hey, if you're anything like me, you might find you're still learning this one too.