What's the most effective way to teach a child the value of having patience?

Answer 1

Great question! An interesting study showed a strong correlation between the "M and M test" and future school success. They gave a four year old an M and M and told them that they could eat it then, or wait until after the story and get a handful of M and Ms. The children who could wait, supposedly, eventually had more academic success than those who gobbled down the candy.

I think that patience is a concept that develops over time. Even two year olds can begin to understand. Does your child want to go outside, but needs to put on a coat and hat first? "Be patient, we're on our way." Connect the word "patient" to positive things. Try cooking muffins..."we have to be patient while they are in the oven. Can you be patient?" You could even try planting a seed and waiting to see it grow. Always connect the idea of "patient" back to something good happening.

An important parenting caveat: Try not to make promises you can't keep. Only use the word patient with an outcome that you are pretty certain of, at least at the beginning! I think that many children come to associate patience with things that don't always happen, and that's why they gobble the metaphorical candy...they don't have faith that their patience will be rewarded.

Answer 2

I'm not sure on how to teach the value of Patience to a young child. But you can teach them how to be patient. I am currently trying to teach mine to be a little more patient since he is going to be a big brother really soon. But its been an uphill battle.

Answer 3

Ok, maybe a simple thing like have a food that is not good when its cold and say, now we have to be PATIENT abd wait for it to heat up on the stove, if we wait good, the food will taste really a lot better than if we ate it just cold..

Answer 4

the best way is to be very patient yourself, no matter what they do or say. patient and calm. whatever u are doing in the situation is calmly and repeatly do it and have patience yourself. i hope this helps u. good luck!