What To Do When Kids Interrupt You While Working?
When you’re working, it’s easy to get frustrated with the kids who are constantly interrupting you with their requests. It can be hard to stay focused on your work when your kids keep coming in and asking for something, or when they refuse to leave. But there are ways to make it easier on yourself.
Here are some tips on what to do when kids interrupt you while working?
1. Take a break.
When you’re interrupted, take a break. This is especially important if you’re working on something that requires concentration. When you take a break, you’ll be able to return to your work with a clearer head.
You may also want to try setting up boundaries for yourself so that you can get more done. For instance, if your kids are interrupting your work time, set up a schedule for when they can interrupt you or find another activity for them to do.
2. Set boundaries for interruptions.
Kids are really, really good at interrupting us when we’re trying to work. Whether it’s a request for a snack or a question about the latest episode of “The Walking Dead,” we can find ourselves constantly putting our work on hold.
That’s not good for us or for the kids, and it’s not fair to them either. So set boundaries for how many times they can interrupt you during a certain period of time, and stick to those boundaries. If they ask for something, tell them you’re working right now and will be happy to help them in a few minutes.
If they need you to answer a question, ask if they can wait until you’re done with your work. And if you need more time to finish your work, let the kids know that too — but don’t take too long!
3. Consider your child’s needs.
It can be hard to focus on anything else when your kids are interrupting you. When they come in, stop what you’re doing and give them your full attention. If they need something, help them out.
If they want to play, let them know you’ll play with them after you finish what you’re working on. Explain to them that it’s important for mommy or daddy to finish what they’re doing so they can get a break later.
4. Consider your own needs.
As a mom, I know how frustrating it can be to have kids interrupt you while you’re working. But it’s important to remember that you have needs, too. So before you yell at them for being noisy, take a moment to ask yourself what you need to do in order to get back to your work.
If it’s something they can help with, let them do it. If it’s not, explain that you need some time and space and then come back and talk when they are done.
5. Remember the long-term goal.
When you are working on something, it can be difficult to get back into the groove after being interrupted. The key is to remember the long-term goal. If you have an hour-long project to finish, just keep in mind that you’ll need to work for a total of two hours before it’s done.
If you’re interrupted for 10 minutes, then you’ll need to work for two hours and ten minutes. This way, the interruption will be less frustrating and you’ll be able to stay focused.
6. Take care of the interruption.
Kids are like puppies. They need attention and they need to be let out to sniff around every now and then. If you have a child who is interrupting your work, take care of the interruption first. Ask them if they need anything or if they want to do something together.
You can also try putting them to work with a simple task, like sorting laundry or cutting vegetables. Just make sure that the task is age appropriate and that you’re giving them enough time to complete it.
7. Talk to your kids about interruptions.
If you’re working and your kids interrupt you, have a conversation with them about what they should do when they need to talk to you. For example, they could ask you if it’s a good time to talk, or knock on the door.
If they’re old enough, you can also let them know that they can go find another adult to help them if you’re busy. It’s important to teach kids how to respectfully approach an adult. This will help them be more successful in the future.
8. Ignore
It’s easy to get frustrated when you have to stop what you’re doing to answer a question or tend to a child. But if you can’t ignore the interruption, try not to let your temper flare.
You don’t want your kids to get the impression that they can always get what they want by being demanding or interrupting your work. Instead of yelling, try using a calm voice and explain why you need to finish what you’re doing first.
9. Give them a task
If you’re an expert multi-tasker, this tip may not be for you. But if you’re like most people, you’ll find that when your child interrupts your work, it can take a while to get back to the task at hand.
One way to minimize the interruption is to give your child a task to complete while you finish what you’re doing. That way they are occupied and not bothering you. This also teaches them how to be productive and independent.
10. Take a break and play with them
Children are naturally curious and want to explore their world. If you don’t give them the opportunity to do this, they will find ways to entertain themselves, which might not be the best for them.
Give your children some time to explore and play. This will help keep them occupied while you work. You can also try to redirect their attention by asking them what they think of your work. Or, ask them if they would like to help you with something.
11. Let them watch TV, but only for a short time
It’s tempting to let the kids watch TV or play on their tablet, but that can be a risky move. It’s too easy for them to get sucked into a show or game and not want to stop.
If you do let them watch TV, make sure it’s only for a short time, and then put the TV away. If they’re playing on their tablets, make sure they are in a place where they can’t cause any damage.
12. Do something together, like read or color
The key to not letting kids interrupt your work is to make sure that you are doing something with them. This way, when they come to you, you can say, “I’m just finishing this up. What do you want to do?”
This will make them feel like they have a say in what happens and will reduce the number of interruptions. You can also offer a trade-off: if they stop interrupting you for 10 minutes, you’ll play with them for 10 minutes.
13. Create a “Do not disturb” zone.
This is a great idea if you need to focus on something important. You can use a sign, a door, or even a room to create this zone. It’s also a good idea to set up some boundaries for when your child can interrupt you.
For instance, they might be able to ask you questions or get your attention for five minutes before they need to back off.
14. Be aware of your body language.
The most important thing is to be aware of your body language. If you’re sitting on the couch and your child comes in, you might be tempted to pick up your laptop and continue working.
But if you do that, your child will think that it’s okay to interrupt you while you’re working. Instead, get up when they come in and set a boundary. For example, say, “I’m working right now. I’ll talk to you in a little bit.” Then put your laptop away and spend time with them.
15. Let them know they are welcome to talk to you
Let them know they are welcome to talk to you, but that you need to focus on your work right now. If they’re old enough, ask them to help you by finding something for you to do.
For example, if your child is old enough to read, have them read a book or magazine out loud. If your child doesn’t want to read aloud, have him or her find a book to read on their own. You can also ask your child to bring you a drink of water or make you a snack. This will give them something productive to do while you work.
16. Give them a warning before you get frustrated.
It’s not always easy to get back on track, but it’s a lot easier if you give yourself a warning before you get frustrated. This is a great way to help kids learn how to interrupt without being rude.
You can tell them, “I’m working on something important right now. Please wait until I’m done.” Or, if you need them to do something specific, you can say something like, “I’ll be done in 5 minutes and then I’ll play with you.” When you give yourself that warning, it’s easier to stay focused on what you’re doing.
