Teaching children patience is not impossible. We first teach our children to be impatient inadvertently by supplying their every need when they are babies. When your baby cries it is for a reason. But the child grows older, now what? Here are 6 ideas to help you.
1. Do not reward bad behavior. When a baby cries they need something. You would be neglecting your baby just to let them cry without any response. But eventually your child cries over everything even when they can talk. You need to let your child know that crying when ever they want something is no longer appropriate. They need to use words.
2. Be an example. You need to show your children that you are patient if you want them to learn patience. When you are waiting for someone what do you do? Do you make comments? Our children are always watching.
3. Reward patient behavior. Try to find something your child is doing everyday where they have shown some patience. Let them know you have noticed and do something special for them.
4. Slow down. In America our lives are very fast paced. Television and video games teach impatience by constantly seeking to gratify a child’s need for fast input. Sometimes we enhance this by having our children in multiple activities in addition to school. Try some activities like the park or reading a book.
5. Board games. Games where a child needs to wait their turn can be very good for teaching patience. I have done this and it can be frustrating at first because children are not used to waiting. Keep at it though and eventually your children will learn that it is enjoyable when others are having fun also.
6. Baking. Bake something with your child. Make sure the finished product is a cookie or piece of cake. Explain to them that the time it takes to cook is worth it because it tastes so much better cooked.
Patience can be learned from example and activities. Games, cooking and slowing down help your children see the value in being patient.
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