Learning to Wait

Learning to wait can be one of the hardest parts of childhood. I remember having to wait in line at the bank (before ATMs). I clearly remember trying to hang on the velvet cords and being surprised when they would crash and clatter to the ground loudly, embarrassing my mom and older sister. In those days, we had to be bored, creative with our time, and/or interact!

Make Waiting Fun

Now days, we all have different ways of entertaining ourselves when we wait. Most people are seen on their cell phones in lines, etc. But what is that teaching our children about waiting with either happy or simply bored anticipation? Not much. There are lots of ways you and your kids could make waiting fun this summer so that your child learns new ways to entertain him/herself.  You might even try practicing waiting on purpose so you can have these fun opportunities! And if they simply have to be bored for 5 minutes, pat yourself on the back that you allowed them to be. Then find time everyday to all them to be again. This builds their own resilience, self-exploration, and truly builds connections in their brains.

Ideas for Wait Time

Call it "waiting," and have it be associated with something fun at first...you can play: 

*"I spy" 

*Shared drawings 

*Pat-a-cake 

*Tell a shared story 

*Sing a song together 

*Create a new handshake 

*Play hangman

*Count something

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Consider having a theme of waiting for 1 week in your household without devices. Maybe you create a silly song to sing before things are just handed to them... to encourage waiting in a way that is manageable and creative.