Parenting Perspective 

A child’s loud ‘excuse me!’ often comes from a place of pure eagerness, not intentional rudeness. They have an important thought and want to share it now. Our role is not to squash their enthusiasm, but to channel it, teaching them the gentle art of polite interruption so their voice can be heard without disrespecting others. 

Practise with Role-Play and Physical Cues 

Rehearse in a playful way. Pretend you are on the phone and have them practise getting your attention. Teach them a non-verbal cue, like placing a hand on your arm. This gives them a physical action to perform while they wait for you to pause, channelling their impulse. 

Praise Every Calm Attempt 

Positive reinforcement is your most effective tool. The moment they interrupt politely or wait for a pause, acknowledge it with warmth: ‘Thank you for waiting for me to finish. That was very respectful. Now, what did you want to tell me?’ 

Teach Different Ways to Wait 

Give them a script for both urgent and non-urgent situations. For important needs, they can learn to say a quiet but firm ‘Excuse me, please.’ For less urgent thoughts, teach them the valuable skill of holding the thought until the conversation has a natural break. 

Model the Patience You Expect 

Your child will learn conversational respect by watching you. When you avoid interrupting others in your own conversations, you are providing a powerful, unspoken lesson. Your consistent modelling shows them that everyone, including adults, must respect the rhythm of a conversation. 

This patient approach teaches your child that their voice is valued, and that politeness is the key to being heard effectively. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam places a high value on adab (good manners) in conversation. Teaching a child to wait their turn and speak gently is not just about social grace; it is about cultivating the patience and humility that are central to a beautiful Islamic character. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Furqaan (25), Verse 63: 

‘ And the true servants of the One Who is Most Beneficent are those who wander around the Earth with humility; and when they are addressed by the ignorant people, they say: “Peace be unto you”.‘ 

This verse describes the servants of Allah by their gentle and peaceful conduct. Learning not to interrupt with a loud or demanding tone is a practical way to embody this beautiful quality of saying ‘words of peace’. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2564, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘It is evil enough for a man to despise his Muslim brother.’ 

This hadith warns against the arrogance of looking down on others. Interrupting someone can be a small form of this contempt, as it implies that our words are more important than theirs. Patience in conversation is a sign of humility. 

By teaching your child to say “excuse me” calmly and respectfully, you are instilling Islamic adab (manners) in their everyday interactions. Over time, they will understand that polite interruption is not just social courtesy but also part of embodying humility and respect as a believer.