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Patience holds immense importance in navigating life’s challenges and obstacles. However, very few people naturally possess this trait in today’s fast-paced world. Children, in particular, tend to be restless and impatient by default. But, this doesn’t mean that your child is incapable of developing patience. With proper guidance and consistent practice, like any other skill they aim to acquire, they can cultivate patience.
Virtuous qualities, including patience, kindness, and joy, must be taught and learned. So why not invest time in teaching your children the art of patience? The rewards will undoubtedly outweigh the effort. The next time your little one becomes fidgety at a restaurant, view it as an opportunity to nurture their patience and utilize the following tips to help them along the way. Here’s how you can instill patience in your kids effortlessly.
1. Start Small
Mastering the art of patience is not an overnight endeavor, and it’s important not to set unrealistic expectations for your children. For your little ones, it’s best to start small and gradually introduce the concept of delayed gratification. The journey to instilling patience should commence at an early age. For instance, you can encourage your toddler to remain calm and wait while you prepare their breakfast, or they can share something with you, or ask them to hold off on playing outside until their toys are put away. As they continue to grow, you can elevate their patience by gradually extending the waiting time, beginning with just a minute or two. Over time, incrementally increase the duration they need to wait until their desires are fulfilled.
2. Make It A Positive Experience
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You have to keep in mind that when kids are young they can’t really fathom the concept of time or a sense of delayed gratification. They are used to you meeting all of their needs instantaneously from the time they were a baby. So they may not understand why you are making them wait all of a sudden. Kids are also prone to relentlessly hounding you for attention. Maybe they want to show you a new trick they learnt or maybe they just want to say hi for the 5th time that afternoon.
It’s common for kids to struggle with waiting, even if you’ve set a specific time frame and assured them that you’ll be there in 5 minutes. They might persistently ask if it’s time yet. In such situations, it’s essential to respond with patience and kindness rather than annoyance. This approach fosters a positive experience for both you and your child. Encourage them to wait and, most importantly, follow through on your promise by giving them the attention they desire. By consistently reinforcing this pattern, they’ll develop a positive association with patience as it ultimately leads to them getting what they want.
3. Use A Countdown Timer
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This is a great way to teach your kids the benefits of delayed gratification. Sometimes you need to delay your kid’s gratification in order to teach them how to be patient. This means that you hold off on buying them a toy they are obsessed with or a pet they want until it is their birthday, Christmas or any other special occasion. This will give them something to look forward to and will motivate them to remain patient. They can also use a visible representation of time going by in order to encourage them to keep their cool. They can mark the day they receive their gift on a calendar and strike out each day as it goes by. By counting down the days they will get excited as more time goes by instead of becoming cranky and restless instead.
4. Keep Your Promises
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None of these tips work unless you keep your promises to your child and follow through. Remember your child is learning to wait for something. Be it a visit to the park, an ice cream cone or a new pair of shoes. They are choosing to be patient knowing that they will be rewarded for it. So, make sure you stay true to your word and reward them when the time comes. They deserve it and they’ve earned it. Asking your kids to stay patient is not how you deflect from having to buy them something you can’t afford. If it’s something they can’t have for a while, be honest with them and tell them about the situation. There’s nothing worse than false expectations.
Teaching kids life lessons and life skills is not easy, especially when that lesson is patience. But it is possible. Now that you know some tips to teach your kids to wait for the good things in life, they are going to be just fine. Happy parenting!
