Hmm, I dont know if this will help you to cope, but understanding why can quite often help one to cope. All children are different, some learn through listening and watching others, quietly processing the information "The Thinker". Some children learn through hearing and then doing, the doing kickstarting the processing, "The Practicle Child". And some children are visual, audio learners, "Excentric Child", it is the sound of there own voice that kick starts the processing. I have an extreme visual and audio learner and she talks from the moment she wakens up to the moment she falls asleep. Sometimes I think, oh give me a break, but if I enforced that she would loose her ability to process information.

School is a nightmare for my daughter as they have to be quiet and listen, so she has to have one to one time. However she is extreme, but many children have mixtures of these traits and it sounds like your little one uses audio to explore and learn about the world. Please try to find way's to cope, as stopping your child talking could be detremental to their ability to learn. My daughter is 7yrs, but has a vocab of a 14yr old. Rejoice in the fact that your child is curious and expressive, they wont alway's include you in their world.

Best Wishes. Winnie.xxxx

LOL Show me a kid that doesn't do that and I'll show you a kid with a serious problem.

Add these words to your vocabulary and use regularly:

Ah huh.

Yes dear.

Hmmm.

Ok.

Whatever you say matey.

Are you sure?

Really!

I don't know.

What do you think?

You let him talk.  He's four years old and has a lot to say. You should consider yourself lucky to have such a smart and thoughtful child.  

Hey there, I HEAR you!!! My 3 1/2 year old just NEVER stops...unless she is asleep! Even then she sometimes talks in her sleep! She started talking VERY early and constantly astounds everyone with her vocabulary....however, IT IS DRAINING -somedays I feel like screaming when the phrase " but WHY???" is repeated for the 6 thousandth time!!!!!! Today it started at 6.00 a.m ...." Mummy, it's time to get up, I'm hungry, I need my breakfast." I told her to hop into bed with me. " But Mummy, the sun is just peeping over the horizon which means it is morning time and that YOU have to get up because I can't make my own breakfast yet as I'm too little" ...I kid you not. " So Mummy, did you have a good rest, I did, I am wide awake and I am  very, VERY hungry because I was too tired to eat last night. Mummy why was I tired last night??? Mummy what are you going to make me for breakfast? Oh that's right, we are going to the showgrounds for breakfast. Well can you still make me something because I am just too hungry to last that long....etc...etc...etc.... "  If childern are bright they want to know EVERYTHING..and it's got to be a NON STOP process! If you are really at your wits end, do what I do...visit someone with older kids....... they are GREAT distractors. THey love my cherub and she loves them. All you need is someone else to answer the constant barrage of questions...just for a little while, particularly if you are tired and worn out and at your wits end! Child care, if available,a couple of days a week, is also a good option!!!! ( I wish!) I love my cherub to bits, but somedays the constant questions are tiring! On the upside, you obviously have a very bright, very interested and tuned in child! When at your wits end, just remember it's their way of tapping into a very believable source of knowledge ...YOU!!!! They may be too small to Google things, look at an encyclopedia or open a dictionary, so their only option is ...you guessed it...MUM!  Good luck!

Ok, got the same problem here with ours, and it can be very draining at times.   Have you thought of putting him into daycare?  There are occassional care centres out there that will work with your timetable.  Might not stop the problem, but might give you a bit of a break from it.

You could also turn the chatter fests into something productive by getting activity books and getting him to talk about the things in that, he could also help the other children to learn this way too!

Have you heard of Dora The Explorer?  This childrens character and her friends speak english and spanish, so is actually highly productive watching.  Get some of the DVD's or videos and see if that helps to divert his attentions.

We also do the semi listening, which means that we shut down partly to the constant chatter, but register the tone and general content incase there is something of importance being said.  It works, they think you are listening and the occassional 'wow', or 'yeah' keeps them thinking you are.

It all comes down  to you being able to block it out to a certain extent, and it takes practice!

a sock and some gaffa tape. if that doesn't work buy an mp3 player and listen to that. if that doesn't work show him a cool toy and tell him to talk to that. put him outside maybe and close the door. i don't know but i know what you mean because a friend of mine has a son the same age who just wont shut up. lucky he goes to kindy 2 days a week but she also goes crazy.

He does sound like a bright child. Do you have a relative, friend or neighbor that you can ask to take him for a few hours? Sounds like you need a break. You might also want to discuss this with the pediatrician. He might have some insight to the talking.

DCMerkle

I'm listening intently to the advice being given as I'm sure I will be in the same position my 14 week old will not shut up. Although she does not speak English she is obviously speaking in her own baby language to anyone including tv characters, with her eyes closed, open, in her sleep.  She can't even stop talking when she is having her bottle and if she is not talking she is making fart noises .  Oh and she want share the keyboard as I'm typing she is putting her little hands undernieth mine and trying to move them away.  It takes along time to type anything.

Not that you can hear it from there, but I'm laughing.  My son started a conversation with me in the middle of the night last night.  I have absolutely no idea what he was trying to tell me because I was exhausted, but he was intent on finishing his story.  Sounds like you need a break.  You probably aren't going to be able to get him to stop talking so maybe someone can watch him for a little while while you get a chance to enjoy silence?  Hang in there.  If he is talking a lot that means he is really smart and has lots to say.  And is comfortable telling you.  They are only little for such a short time.  Before long you won't be able to get him to say anything.  LOL

lol, I know where you are coming from. My son has always been like this right from when he began talking..he is nearly 12 now. He will talk until he is blue in the face! Turns out that he is actually quite intelligent..not a genius, but still pretty smart. he uses words most 11yr olds dont even know the meaning of and has this ability to describe things in the tiniest detail. It can get annoying yes, especially when I am tired or watching bold and the beautiful lol, but it is a good thing..really, it is. You will probably find that he will be a little smarty pants when he begins school and will be a sponge soaking everything up. Grin, bear it and look like u r listening by nodding your head..my only advice!

It's a childs job to ask questions. LOL

You should be more worried if he was to ask nothing.

He loves you NOW so give it back as there are bound to be times in your life that things will be different. Live it up now before a hug becomes a shrug and a kiss is just not cool.

Basically what I am saying is they are not little forever so grow with them.

Sounds like a bright little boy. Believe me it is good when they want to talk to you. Can he  help you while he is talking? I am guessing that he is the oldest and the others cant help him yet with all his questions. Maybe he needs some play mates over? Just a couple suggestions. I know I had a very talkative son and all he seemed to do was ask why? all day. Can get tiring but better he was talking and making noise cause then I knew where he was and what he was up to!

He loves you, and just wants your attention. I know it can be frustrating when there are other kids to deal with, I have 3 under 7. Maybe just gibe him some of your time and talk to him for half an hour. It might satisfy his need for attention. If not set him up with an activity, drawing, paints, playdoh or something that will occupy him. You dont really want him to shut up... imagine that if you had a child that was physically unable to speak... that would be devistating. Life is to short to ignore the ones we love. Im not trying to make you feel bad but i think you need to take a step back and appreciate his new skill to be able to jabber on and on about nothing.

I have times when I want my 4 yr old to leave me alone cos the baby has been up all night but i try to find her something to do so she doesnt get bored cos when she is bored she gets in to things and be's naughty.

good luck

xoxox