Stop Constant Interruptions from Your Kids: Printable

Do your kids interrupt you constantly? Tug on your sleeve every time you’re on an important phone call? Bang on the door whenever you sit down to nurse the baby? It seems whenever I try to put my youngest down for a nap, suddenly her older brothers have a dire situation that needs immediate attention. Usually the “emergency” is an argument over who gets to play with a toy, or wondering if they can do screen time (“No!”), or letting me know that the other brother just took a cookie out of the pantry even though it’s almost lunchtime. To stop these constant interruptions, I’ve laid out some ground rules for them about what actually constitutes an emergency (scroll down for a printable version).

It usually gets them to laugh as they recognize that what they had been interrupting about really wasn’t an emergency. It has cut way down on the interruptions I get as I try to get my little one to sleep (a more difficult task the older she gets!), but it also gives me reassurance that they will come to me if they truly need it.

One time, for example, the boys really thought there was a fire in the kitchen. It turns out they had just heard the “sizzle sizzle” of lunch cooking in the oven, but I thought it was appropriate that they came to me since they were genuinely concerned and it could have really been an emergency.

If you have trouble with constant interruptions from your kids about things that really can wait then this printable checklist will definitely help!

Stop Constant Interruptions from Your Kids: Printable Checklist

If your important phone call or baby’s bedtime is constantly disturbed by unnecessary interruptions from your kids then print out this easy checklist for them to use! Not only will you eliminate being interrupted for something that can wait, you can have peace of mind that your kids will still come to you if there truly is an emergency!

Please note: This checklist should only be used after reviewing with your children what real emergencies are. Role playing is a great way to help them so that if a real emergency happens they know to come get you (or call 911 if they can’t find a trusted adult).

Click on the image below to save and print your free printable checklist!