Young children can be taught how to interrupt someone politely in situations when you're talking to a friend or you're on the telephone. We call it "The Secret Code to The Interrupt Rule." The child puts his hand on Mommy's hip or gently on the back of her arm, and he zips his mouth and doesn't say a word. That's his secret code with Mom to tell her that he has a question or needs something.

As parents, we want to respond quickly to our children, but we don't want to be rude to our friend. With the "Secret Code," we continue our conversation until there is a break in the flow of thought, and then we politely say to our friend, "Excuse me just a moment," and turn to our child, and say, "Yes, honey. What do you need?"

Children love to know that they have a "Secret Code" to get Mom's attention, and they don't have to yell or have a temper tantrum to get noticed.