How To Teach Children To Know How To Wait?
Teaching children to know how to wait is very important, as they learn to develop the coping mechanisms necessary for their daily lives. For the child, knowing how to wait encompasses observation, concentration and learning.
Patience is an extremely important value for human beings, however it is not an innate skill . Children must gradually learn from their earliest years of life. Although it is not an easy task, since like us, children also live in a society where everything happens quickly and in which everything progresses exponentially.
Before putting into practice some advice to teach children to know how to wait, it is very opportune to better understand how the waiting mechanisms and emotions involved in this process work.
How do children cope with waiting according to their age?
During the first twelve months, the baby does not have the ability to control his emotions and clearly express his needs. When she cries, she expresses discomfort, an unfulfilled need such as hunger, pain or fatigue.
For the baby, waiting causes panic, fear and vulnerability. This experience can be traumatic if it goes on long, so it’s important to try to respond quickly to your needs.
From twelve months to three years of life, children will be able to have a little more control over their emotions, but they have difficulties in knowing how to wait, as they have not yet developed the notion of time. Therefore, depending on the circumstances, the wait may seem too long or too short.
Until she is old enough to be more receptive to the notion of time, it is better to offer concrete reference points of space and time for her to understand. For example, say “after sleep”, “when daddy gets home from work” or “when you finish eating.”
These terms will be easier for her to understand. At this stage, it is advisable to have the child wait a minute or two before satisfying his wishes.
From the age of four , children begin to understand the concept of patience better and can thus bear the wait before satisfying their needs. At this age, she is more independent and able to manage on her own. If your order is not urgent, it can wait.
Advice for teaching children to know how to wait
Now that we understand the workings of the mechanisms and emotions involved, you have below 4 tricks to teach your kids to know how to wait:
1.- Explain
You should explain to your child very calmly why you cannot have what you ask for right away. The child will be able to understand why he has to wait and for how long.
For example, if you want a toy, explain that you will have to wait for a special occasion: your birthday, a family party, or Christmas. By postponing this situation, you will be making the child understand that there is a time between his personal desires and the outside world.
2.- Appreciate and reward
Always remember to praise your child when showing patience, and show him how proud you are of it. Always congratulate him on his good behavior, giving him some rewards or perhaps privileges to crown his efforts by knowing how to wait.
3.- Give a visual signal
Concrete timelines also help your child know how to wait. For example, place small stickers in the shape of animals or fruits on the watch. You can ask him to wait until the pointer gets to the horse or apple, for example.
When your child starts reading the time, buy him a watch so he can learn the notion of time and make it a reference.
4.- Organize
If you know in advance that your child will have a waiting time during the day (doctor’s appointment, excursion, restaurant, etc.) plan to bring little things that pique their interest. Don’t forget your stuffed animal, your favorite book, your pencils or a simple snack to keep you entertained.
Definitely, if you do not know how to teach your child to know how to wait, the 4 tips above will help you a lot for you to train the tools that improve children’s patience, so that they learn to master the art of knowing how to wait.
