Hey everyone, I’m looking for some easy tips to help teach my kids to be more patient. They’re always in such a rush and get frustrated when things don’t happen instantly. Any ideas that have worked for you? I’m not looking for anything complicated, just some simple strategies I can use day-to-day. Thanks!
Lately, I’ve been trying to make waiting more fun for my kid. We play ‘I Spy’ or silly word games while standing in line at stores. It distracts from the wait and passes time quickly.
For longer waits, like at restaurants, we bring a small notebook and take turns adding to a silly story or drawing. It’s become a fun family activity that keeps everyone engaged.
These little games seem to help build patience without making it feel like a chore. What kinds of activities have you tried during wait times?
I’ve been working on patience with my 5-year-old too. It’s tough! We started playing board games together, and I noticed it’s helping a bit with turn-taking. But some days, waiting is still a big challenge.
What age are your kids? I’m curious if there are different strategies for different ages.
Have you tried any specific activities or games that seemed to help? I’d love to hear what’s worked (or not worked) for other parents. Sometimes I feel like I’m just guessing at what might be effective.
We’ve had good results with a ‘patience jar’ in our house. The kids earn marbles for showing patience throughout the day. Things like waiting their turn or not interrupting count.
Once the jar is full, we do a fun family activity they choose. It’s been great seeing them get excited about being patient.
We also talk about patience while we’re baking. Waiting for cookies to come out of the oven or for bread to rise has led to some good conversations about delayed rewards.
I’ve noticed my older one starting to encourage the younger one to be patient too. It’s slow progress, but they’re getting better at waiting without getting upset.
What kinds of everyday situations do you find most challenging with your kids?
I remember those days! My kids used to get so impatient. One thing that helped was giving them a heads-up before transitions. Like, “We’re leaving the park in 10 minutes.” It gave them time to adjust.
We also played the ‘quiet game’ on car rides. The kids had to stay silent as long as possible. It started as a way to get peace, but it actually taught them to sit still and be patient. 
As they got older, we talked about delayed gratification. If they saved their allowance for a bigger item instead of spending it right away, they’d get a bonus. It wasn’t always easy, but over time, they learned that waiting can pay off.
What have you tried so far? Every kid is different, so it might take some experimenting to find what works for yours.
We use a simple timer for waiting. Kids can see how long’s left. Works for stuff like sharing toys or screen time limits. They still get antsy, but it’s helped some.
Puzzles are good too. Teaches them to stick with something that takes time.