Teaching Patience To Your Kids: 7 Simple Ways

For kids, being patient is probably the hardest thing to do. Almost every household across the globe is familiar with the scene of the parents on the phone or in the middle of a crucial Zoom meeting, but the child wants to talk. The child continues talking no matter how many times you request him to wait. Children don’t hear words like ‘Please wait.’ They hear ‘Please continue talking,’ and that’s what they do. 

Every parent wants their kids to be a little more patient because patience is a virtue. Patience teaches children how to remain calm in tense situations, and it’s a learning that’ll remain with them throughout their lives. 

Why is it important to teach your kids to be patient?

It’s a known fact that children are naturally inclined to be impatient. You will find it is difficult for them to wait in queues or sit still when you go to a fancy restaurant for dinner. Therefore, it is a genuine challenge to take your kids outside to a public place, including leaving them at a day boarding school in Siliguri.

Your child may quickly become impatient for you to come and throw a tantrum. They may end up creating a commotion and disturbing others around. 

If you want to have a pleasant life, it is vital to teach your children the importance of being patient and help them practice it. 

The world today is filled with instant gratification, and kids rarely have to wait for anything they want. That’s why it is becoming more and more challenging to teach children the value of being patient. But there are situations when kids need to know how to be patient, such as waiting for their turn in a game, waiting at the doctor’s or waiting for the teacher to enter the classroom. 

By equipping children with the techniques they need to be a bit more patient, you’ll save them from a life of frustration in the future. They will be more adaptable and better at handling stressful situations. 

Ways to teach kids to be a little more patient 

1. Maintain a positive attitude in front of your children to encourage them to be patient 

When modeling patience for your kids, it is crucial to remain calm and smile. Show your kids how to handle unwanted situations and problems with positivity. For instance, when you’re standing in line at the bank or restaurant with your kids, avoid rolling your eyes or complaining. You have to smile through the unwanted situation because they’ll become more impatient if your kids see you grumpy. They might hurry to make you feel happy. 

2. Practice patience yourself 

Everyone is aware of the difficulties parents face. It isn’t easy to wake your kids, get them ready, fed up, and get them ready for school in time for the morning assembly. Working parents find this routine particularly hard because they have to get ready for work. In these situations, parents need to practice patience so their children will have an example to follow when it is their turn to be patient. 

3. Start teaching patience in children by looking for small opportunities in everyday life 

Children won’t become patient overnight. It would help if you started small by seeking opportunities in their everyday lives. Make them wait for something they want, such as toys or watching cartoons on TV. Initially, make your kids wait for a few minutes, which will teach them the concept of waiting. Then, you can gradually increase the waiting time to improve their level of patience.  

4. Utilize reflective listening and encourage children to share their feelings about waiting 

You are bound to hear your kids complain that they would rather do something else or play instead of waiting. Don’t ignore such complaints but encourage them to share their feelings. You must not take your child lightly when they complain and try to work with them to develop a solution. 

5. Teach your children delayed gratification because everything in life will not come easy 

You might be able to get your child all the toys in the store if they demand it. But this will only set them up for a life full of disappointments and frustrations. It isn’t a realistic view of their future life because they have to wait for their turn and work hard to get what they want as they grow up. 

So, make your kids wait for a while before giving them things that they want, which will teach them how to be patient. For instance, if you are washing clothing and your kid wants to play with you, ask your kid to wait until you are done with the work you are doing and then play. 

Teaching your child delayed gratification will help them adjust better when going to CBSE schools in Siliguri. It will give them a sense of understanding towards their classmates and make them patiently wait for their turn when they raise their hands for the teacher’s attention. 

6. Stick to the timing that you’ve promised your kids 

Your kid wants to spend time with you, but you’re in the middle of creating a work report. You ask your child to wait for two minutes and don’t follow through. Ultimately, your child becomes impatient and starts to throw a tantrum. 

The scene is familiar in most households. If it isn’t work-related, it could be related to serving dinner. If you want your children to learn and value patience, you need to follow your promises and stick to your timing. For instance, instead of telling your kids that dinner will be served in ten minutes, tell them that dinner will be served after the potatoes are cooked. It will give your children a real waiting time and teach them to be patient. 

7. Transform waiting into a fun game 

Games like ‘I Spy’ are an excellent way to keep children occupied when they’ve been waiting for a long time. When they’re playing games, they are engaged in an activity and also get the opportunity to understand their surroundings. 

If you’re striving to teach your child patience, these easy ways should help you get started.