When one talks all the time

Amy is a precocious and constant talker -- I can hardly hear myself think. It wouldn't be so bad (since I do find her very entertaining) except that we're also trying to encourage Sarah to speak up. She has some articulation delays, so she's hard to understand, and she also speaks in a much quieter voice. When Amy's talking, I often can't even tell if Sarah is talking at all, let alone what she's saying.

I've been trying to enforce a "taking turns" policy, at least in the car -- "Amy, it's Sarah's turn to talk now -- please be quiet for a minute." This works, sort of, but it's awkward. Plus, one or the other one often forgets what she wanted to say by the time it's her turn, so we all get frustrated.

Does anyone have a strategy that works? Is it even possible to start teaching "don't interrupt" at this age?

 

I doubt they'll be able to really understand taking turns talking......I'm in my 30's now my sisters & still don't get it. But I also have a very verbal kid & one who's super quiet & hard to understand. I've asked the physical therapist about it......even though she's not working with speech, she still knows a lot. She encouraged me to kind of get him to talk for himself more; when dd will come up to me & say "J wants a drink" for example, I just tell her "J will tell me if he's thirsty." Then I ask him.....try to get him to say it for himself. Also, she said giving him choices will help.......when he's thirsty, I'll ask if he wants milk or water & try to get him to pick one. (Helps if I'm holding them in front of him.) Reading books together & having them point out things in the pictures - though dd always beats him to it. In that instance, I will "take turns". I think taking turns is easier to understand when there's something visual for them to associate it with.

I also try to ask him questions "Where's Daddy?" or "What's sister doing?" ....... singing songs together is also a way everyone can talk at once.

Good luck! I know what you're going through!

 

I think you can start to introduce "don't inturrupt". Alyssa developed a stutter when she was around your daughters' age and one of the main things they tell you to do to help is to give the child time to talk and don't finish their sentences. So we had to work really hard with Bryony to let Alyssa have her turn talking (and vice versa of course). I would just say "wait a minute, name is talking. When she finishes you can talk." Often I would have to remind the one who had been interrupted of the last few words they said to get them started again. We did have quite a few times where they forgot what they were going to say while they waited. If I knew roughly what it was about then I could promt them, but if I didn't or they forgot compleately then I'd just say "never mind, you can tell me when you remember". They never got that upset.

I like the points Naomi made about asking questions and 'forcing' them to say things for themselves. I also found that playing games which require talking was a good way to do the turn-taking thing.

If possible you could try having ten minutes of 'special time' (one-on-one time) per day with each of them. That was another speech therapy thing, but it was quite nice. You can do anything the child wants to as long as it's play, so not reading books or watching tv. It was hard at first to get the one not having special time to not keep coming in (maybe start with just 5 minutes), but they soon learnt that they would get their time, and it did help.

Good luck.

 

I have this exact issue with Ainsley and Bea. Bea talks nonstop and provides us with a narration of everything that is happening, and also asks a question about everything. I did have to tell Bea not to talk for Ainsley, and now Ainsley will say "Bea not talk for me!" I do make a point of saying "Ainsley, what color cup do you want?" and if Bea answers for her, I say, no I was asking Ainsley, don't talk for her. I also (and this is a little bit of my fault too) try to make a point of asking Ainsley what's going on, what did you do in preschool, etc. I found myself tending to ask Bea because Bea is more verbal and provides a clearer answer. So, I can't let Bea be the spokesperson.

On the rare occasions that I have one-on-one time with Ainsley, she does talk a lot more without Bea around. Her articulation is getting better, too.

 

QUOTE(Snittens @ Oct 2 2008, 01:05 AM) [snapback]1007574[/snapback]
I also (and this is a little bit of my fault too) try to make a point of asking Ainsley what's going on, what did you do in preschool, etc. I found myself tending to ask Bea because Bea is more verbal and provides a clearer answer. So, I can't let Bea be the spokesperson.

I do this too. :blush: And even if I look directly at Sarah and ask the question, Amy will answer. I guess I need to be more consistent about saying, "Amy, I was asking Sarah."

 

I also ask them specific questions when I want to hear from dd (ds is my talker). So will say "Molly what book do you want to read?" and when ds tries to answer I tell him that I was asking Molly and I ask her again.