Parenting an Overly Talkative Child – Tips to Deal With a Chatterbox

Children take a massive leap from being able to speak simple sentences when they are toddlers to having full-fledged conversations with you as they grow older and touch three or four years of age. This phase can be both daunting and exciting for parents. You might be bombarded with tough questions about life, yet, you will take pleasure in the fact that your child can express herself. However, sometimes, children do not know where to draw the line concerning communication, and they do not understand the concept of privacy. If you have an extremely talkative child, you will need to pay attention to what she says and help her correct it gradually.

Video : Useful Tips for Parenting an Overly Talkative Child

What are the Pros and Cons of Having a Talkative Kid?

Having a talkative kid is not all bad. There are certain pros to it too.

Pros

Here are some of the advantages of having a talkative child:

• They Can Communicate: You will not have to worry about what your child is thinking or feeling; she will tell you readily. This way, it is very easy for you to parent as you don’t have to assume or guess what your child is going through. She will be like an open book to you.

• You Have Entertainment: There is never a dull day with a talkative child around. You can count on her to ask questions and bring up conversations to keep you engaged for the entire day. You’ll find plenty of creative imagination popping up during your conversations.

• They’re Great Company: Rest assured, your child will be great company every single day at home or anywhere you go. You don’t even need to bear the burden of the conversation; it’ll all be dealt with single-handed by your little one.

• They’re Opinionated: One major pro of being outspoken or talkative is that children learn, early on, how to voice out their opinions. Do you want to know how you really look in that dress? Ask your child – an honest answer is what you’ll get.

• They’ll be Prepared for Success – With plenty of questions answers, interactive nature and plenty of engagement, talkative kids are bound to be more social and have better verbal communication. They tend to participate readily in activities and events, getting a head-start towards success.

Cons

Despite all the pros, a talkative child’s behaviour is not a piece of cake to handle at all times. It can really test your patience. Here are some cons of having a talkative child:

• Silence is Sparse: If you’re craving a quiet moment in the house, it is unlikely that you’ll find it with a talkative child around. Chances are, you will be bombarded with questions that can kill every ounce of silence around. The only quiet moment you can find is when she is asleep.

• You’ll be Fired with Questions: Children come up with the weirdest questions, and talkative kids, more so. You’ll have questions coming at you faster than you can register them, let alone answer them.

• It’s Usually a One-Person Show: If you are hoping to get a few words in, sincerely, you may have to wait a long time for your chance. You are likely to get cut off quicker than you can get in the first syllable.

• They’ll Hardly Listen: Your child is so engrossed in putting across her opinions that she will barely give a moment to listen to what you have to say and understand it. This can be a big problem, as she will not cultivate the habit of listening to people.

• Random Chain of Thoughts: With a talkative child, no conversation gets completed. The train of thoughts will lead you in a direction that is dimensionally different from where you began.

How to Handle a Hyper-talkative Child

If you’ve ever had to worry about teacher’s complaining about your child’s talkativeness and wondering why my child talks too much in class, you’ll like these tips on how to deal with a child that talks a lot.

1. Don’t Cast Labels

Labelling your child talkative can be a serious blow to her self-esteem. Instead, appreciate her for who she is and be grateful that she is comfortable sharing her thoughts; because the alternative is not good anyway.

2. Give them the Chance to Talk

Give your child enough time every day to voice out what she has to say. Look into her eyes and have a conversation with her. She needs to know that it’s okay to talk. Do not inhibit her communication, as this may lead to issues later on.

3. Set Boundaries

Teach her that it is not okay to share everything. Certain things are private, certain places, like the library, for example, are out of bounds. This will help her pick up social cues, expressions and body languages of others. Set a signal in place that you can use when she picks up the wrong topic. You can also tell her if she’s unsure of what she can and cannot say, she is welcome to come and check with you.

4. The Quiet Game

To inculcate the habit of listening in your child, the quiet game is a great idea. In this game, the person who breaks the silence first loses. This will give her enough time to get used to the concept of staying quiet and listening to others.

5. Take a Time Out

It can be exhausting dealing with a hyper-talkative child, so, you are entitled to a time out. Listen to some music, make it a habit, read a book, or engage in some activity where your child is likely to join you.

Most talkative children can be handled well with similar methods to those mentioned above. On certain occasions, hyper talkativeness could also be due to medical conditions like Asperger’s Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, etc. You can check with your doctor to rule out these possibilities.

Also Read:

Tips for Coping with a Hyperactive Child
Ways to Manage Your Child’s Anger
Effective Tips to Handle Your Highly Sensitive Kid
Discipline Strategies to Manage Aggression in Children