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Originally Posted On: https://bippermedia.com/how-to-teach-patience-to-young-children/

 

Patience can be a difficult skill for young children to learn. They constantly face so many distractions and are exposed to so many new experiences. As a parent or caregiver, you must learn how to help your child learn the essential life skill of being patient. 

You see, not only is patience an essential life skill, but it is also a fundamental success principle that can help your child thrive in many different areas of life. Whether it’s learning how to play nicely with others, working through frustration, or completing a difficult task, teaching your child patience can make all the difference in their ability to succeed and persevere.

Patience is the ability to accept, endure, or wait calmly without complaint. It allows us to face difficulties without becoming frustrated or upset. It also helps us to resist acting impulsively or impatiently.

The good news is, just like other skills, patience can be taught and learned.

So how do you go about teaching your child this valuable skill? Here are some simple tips and techniques that you can use to help your child become more patient and learn how to control their impulses.

1. Be a Good Role Model Yourself.

This is probably the most important tip of all. If you want your child to learn patience, you must first model the behaviour yourself. Remember, children are like sponges, and they absorb everything around them. So if you’re constantly losing your temper or reacting impatiently to situations, your child is likely going to pick up on that and think it’s okay to do the same.

Instead, take a deep breath and try to stay calm and patient in the face of stress or frustration. This will help set the tone for your child, and it will also show them that you’re someone they can look to for guidance and support when dealing with difficult situations.

2. Find Ways to Engage Their Attention and Interest.

Young children are naturally curious and they love learning new things. However, when faced with a boring, tedious, or difficult task, your child may become frustrated and lose interest.

One way to help keep them engaged is by finding ways to make the task more interesting or entertaining for them. For example, you could turn boring tasks into a game or challenge. Try breaking tasks down into smaller steps or use positive reinforcement to motivate them and boost their confidence.

It can be helpful to bring in activities or rewards that the child will find enjoyable, such as colouring books, stickers, or small treats. This can help keep them engaged and motivated. 

3. Teach Them Coping Strategies for Dealing with Frustration.

Another important part of teaching patience is helping your child learn how to deal with feelings of frustration in a constructive way.

There will inevitably be times when your child gets frustrated, whether it’s because they can’t do something they’re trying to do or are stuck waiting in line or for a turn. You must teach them how to cope with these feelings in a healthy way.

One strategy you can use is to have them take some deep breaths and count to 10 (or 20, depending on their age). This will help them calm down and hopefully see the situation more positively.

Another strategy is to have them walk away from the situation for a few minutes to cool off. This can be especially helpful if they’re feeling overwhelmed or if they’re just having a hard time letting go of negative emotions.

4. Teach Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification is the ability to resist temptation in the present moment in order to achieve a greater reward in the future. This skill is important for children to learn because it helps them develop self-control and avoid impulsive behaviours.

One effective way to teach delayed gratification to young children is by using positive reinforcement. You can do this by offering them a small treat or reward when they successfully resist the temptation to act on an impulse.

Additionally, you can help your child develop coping strategies for dealing with frustration and negative emotions, which will also be helpful in teaching them how to delay gratification.

With practice and patience, your child will learn how to manage their feelings and deal with difficult situations in a more positive way. That is something that will serve them in all areas of life, now and well into the future.

5. Develop Empathy

Empathy goes hand-in-hand with patience. Empathy is the ability to understand and care about the feelings and perspectives of others. This skill is important for children to learn because it helps them build healthy relationships and interact more effectively with those around them.

One effective way to teach empathy to young children is by modelling this behaviour yourself.

You see, unlike adults, children often lack the neural hardware to feel empathy for others. And that makes sense because they live in a “me-centred” world of spoiled wants and desires. Understanding the importance of teaching your child to be more empathetic is an important first step toward helping them learn this crucial skill.

There are many different ways that you can help your child develop empathy, including taking an active interest in their feelings and experiences, listening to them with compassion, and providing opportunities for them to connect with others.

Another key component is helping your child understand how their actions can impact others, both positively and negatively. You can do this by discussing the ways that our thoughts, words, and actions can have a positive or negative impact on others.

The Bottom Line?

The best way for parents to teach patience to their children is to model this behaviour themselves. By setting a good example and providing opportunities for your child to practice patience, you can help them develop this important skill.

With time and practice, your child will learn how to better manage their emotions and cope with difficult situations. And that’s something that will benefit them throughout their life.

At The Learning Experience – East Finchley Day Nursery and Preschool, we understand the importance of teaching patience to young children. We provide a safe and supportive environment where children can learn and practice this important skill.

Our experienced teachers at The Learning Experience work closely with each child to help them grow and develop at their own pace, supporting them as they learn to be patient, calm, and resilient. If you’re looking for an educational daycare where your child can learn and thrive, contact us today to learn more about our programs and schedule a tour!

The Learning Experience – East Finchley Day Nursery and Preschool
250 East End Rd
London N2 8AU
020 8444 2638
https://thelearningexperience.co.uk/center/east-finchley/