My Children Are Loud!

My 3.5 old is the same. I'm constantly shushing her at the library and some days at home she just has a loud tone as well. I just keep reminding her to be quieter.

Make a game out of it and reward when they do good. that was my problem with my four year old son and now at times hes too soft! HEHEH! But ti has worked we just make it a outside inside voice game!
good Luck!
E.

Something that really worked with my kids when they were younger and going through a whining phase, was to tell them very calmly that ,"Mommy will not answer you when you whine. If you need something, you may ask in a polite voice and I will be happy to help you with whatever you need." I also started talking softly so that they were forced to listen and only said things once. If they missed it then that was too bad. You could try saying something like,"If you pick up your toys we can go to the park." Then wait 10 minutes and if they haven't heard you because of the volume, just say, a bit louder, "I'm so sorry that we won't be able to go to the park-why didn't you pick up your toys?" Explain to them that because they are so noisy, they may miss out on doing some special things beacuse they couldn't hear what you were saying.

If they just play loudly, then maybe you could try some games to help them listen. Turn on some kid's music at a low volume and tell them that there is a secret word they need to listen for. If they hear it then they can have a treat-it doesn't have to be big. Keep the music at a volume that they have to listen for it, yet not too soft that they have to strain.

Also, you could offer to take them some place special if they can talk softly for the entire day. Let them know that you cannot go to certain "special " places because they are too loud. But if they can learn to tame their voices, then they may come.

I hope this helps.

Blessings

hej hej hej, my twins are 11 and also loud. I think it's a twin thing coupled with their personalities. My theory is that they are so engrossed playing/interacting with each other they shut the world out. We just keep reinforcing "inside voices". Plus at 3 years old, it's just tough to get them to remember. They don't have the physical brain development to remember.

Try finding a physical queue to help them. For example, at home touch your nose (or do something else) and say, "inside voices". While they are little, you can have them break what they are doing, by having them touch touch their noses or something get their attention. I think the physical nature of a queue, initially coupled with the verbal request will stop them long enough to think about it. Praise them when they do it. Make it a game. It will be very handy when you are in public, too because you can make a subtle (to everyone else) gesture and eventually they will remember to quiet down on your queue. We did that with remembering to say thank you. We used the American sign language form in a very subtle way. All you can do is keep at it and keep your cool. I know how frustrating it is but they are still little. Pick your battles and win them one at a time.

For what it's worth, mine are finally getting a little more aware of their verbal decibal level at 11. ;-)

Good luck!

Both of my girls are loud too, but I think they probably come by it naturally. I like to say that my voice "carries". It's nicer than "man that girl is loud!"

I wish that I had advice for you, but I don't! All I can say is that spending 1 hour at my house would probably make you feel like your house isn't so loud! I have a 4 year and 18 month old (BOTH BOYS!) and I am expecting #3 in September (ANOTHER BOY!) and I know where you are coming from! I think some of it is the age - I also think that part of our problem is that it has been so hot and I am so pregnant that they haven't gone outside as much to "get the wiggles out" which they desperately need! Just know that you are not alone! Good luck!

The inside voice is excellent -- model that expected behavior, e.g., speak to them in an inside or a whisper voice, and speak to others in that same voice too. Maybe it will even be a game!!
Good luck,
A.

Make it a game to whisper and or talk quietly.

Uggg... Join the club! My 2 year old and 3 1/2 year old boys are SO loud. They will talk in an inside voice for about 2 minutes before the typical yelling starts again.

Like the other ladies, I just tell them when they are ready to talk to me in an acceptable tone then I am here and ready to listen. Otherwise, I just cannot understand their loud voices... sometimes this works but it just depends on what they want :-)

Good Luck!
E.

Do they have lots of ear infections? Or have you had their hearing tested? Maybe they can't hear themselves and that is the only volume where they can.

Hi there R.,
I can sympathize with your dilemma. I have a loud child and didn't think much of it until she started to become hoarse at the end of the day. She eventually developed nodules on her vocal chords (like calluses) - the ENT Specialist said it happened because the force she used to project her voice, caused the chords to rub together.

If you notice your kiddos going hoarse - it needs to be addressed quickly with their pediatrician who may refer you to an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist. Removing nodules on vocal chords has to be done surgically unless you are able to put into place some speech therapy early enough.

My daughter has had to undergo speech therapy for the past 4 years - her volume has gotten extremely better. The ENT shared great ways, we as a family, could help to remind her that she is being too loud. One great suggestion the speech therapist gave was to have her exhale when she begins to speak - it works wonders!! I still have to tell my daughter, "I can hear you fine", politely of course, just as a gentle reminder that her level is a little high. My daughter is thankful for the special care she's been given - it was hard for her in school at first because the teachers and students complained of her volume - the therapy was/is a win/win for everyone!!! :) She's 10 now and things are great!!!

So sorry for the long reply - I just feel compelled to share this information as it could turn into a much bigger problem if not taken seriously.

Good luck with your twins!!!!
Blessings,
A.

They are 3
You just got to keep on telling them. My children are loud all the time too. But our families are loud also.
Good luck

Lets face it, kids are loud, but it is part of the way they test their hearing, they use it for balance and learn from it. When mine get to loud, I just kick them to the back yard. My main problem is in the car where we use games that involve keeping completely still. Like the Freeze game. They want to win so bad I actually get some quiet. Also try telling them to put a bubble in their mouth. That should last long enough for you to talk to them and tell them to quiet down.

In my kid's school cafeteria there is a stop light that is sound activated. The goal is to keep it on green always! When it gets to yellow they get a warning to quiet down and when it gets to red an alarm goes off and they have to keep silent for 10 minutes. Even though the sound is tolerable at home, maybe if you got something like this it would teach them enough at home to understand what you mean when you say to be more quiet. Maybe the 10 minutes of silence would even help alot, too.