I’ve been trying to help my kids become more patient, but it’s not easy. They get frustrated quickly when things don’t happen right away. I know positive reinforcement is supposed to be good, but I’m not sure how to use it for patience specifically. Any tips or methods that have worked for other parents? Looking for practical ideas I can try at home. Thanks!
I remember struggling with this when my kids were younger. One thing that worked for us was creating a ‘patience jar.’ Whenever I caught them being patient, they’d get to put a marble in the jar. Once it was full, we’d do something fun together.
We also practiced patience with board games. At first, waiting for turns was tough, but over time they got better at it. I’d point out how waiting made the game more fun for everyone.
For everyday stuff, I’d sometimes give a heads up about how long something would take. Like, ‘We’ll leave in 10 minutes.’ It helped them mentally prepare.
What really stuck was when they saw me being patient too. If I was calm while waiting in line or dealing with delays, they’d often follow suit. 
It took time, but these little things added up. Now my teens are pretty good at handling waits without getting too frustrated.
In our house, we’ve found that turning waiting into a fun game really helps with patience. For long car rides or doctor’s visits, we play ‘I Spy’ or sing songs together. It keeps the kids engaged and makes time pass more quickly.
We also use a visual timer for everyday tasks. It’s amazing how seeing time tick down makes waiting feel more manageable for the little ones. They get excited to beat the timer, and we celebrate when they do.
Another thing that works well is praising small moments of patience. Like when they wait their turn to speak at dinner or let their sibling finish a story. Those little acknowledgments go a long way in encouraging more patient behavior.
It’s definitely an ongoing process, but these small steps have made a big difference for us.
I’ve been working on patience with my 5-year-old too. We started using a sand timer for short waits, like brushing teeth or putting on shoes. It’s helped a bit, but some days are still a struggle.
I’m curious about the patience jar idea. How big was the jar you used? Did you have a specific reward in mind or let your kids choose? I like the idea of making patience more visual.
Our latest thing is reading books about patience while we wait for things. It gives us a chance to talk about the characters and how they handle waiting. But I still feel like I’m fumbling sometimes.
What worked best for you in the early years? Did you find your kids caught on pretty quickly or was it a long process?
I’ve found turning waiting into a game can work wonders. We play ‘Guess the Time’ where my kid tries to estimate how long something will take. It’s fun and helps them understand time better.
For everyday tasks, we use a colorful countdown chart. As each task is done, we color in a section. It gives a visual of progress and makes the process more engaging.
Sometimes we have ‘patience challenges’ where we see who can wait the longest without fidgeting. It’s surprisingly effective and often leads to giggles.
These little tricks have made a difference, though some days are still challenging.
We use a points system for patience. Kids earn points for waiting calmly or handling delays well. They can trade points for small rewards or save up for bigger ones.
Started small with short waits and gradually increased. Took time, but it’s gotten easier as they’ve grown.