Teaching Children Patience

Patience is a state of calm, confident acceptance ofchild, to delay and opposition of any kind, you lead your
the time something, or someone, takes. Parents ofchild to demonstrate that same weakness of
infants often feel impatient to see their child'sself-control.
development, to satisfy their curiosity about theIt's important to remember the need for patience.
personality their child will demonstrate. Parents ofWhen you become impatient you become less
toddlers often display impatience when their childeffective, not more effective. You may be able to
wants to stop and explore where she is while on amake things happen more quickly through intense
walk. Parents of children of all ages often becomeforcefulness, but there is a price for that. In your
impatient when their child wanders off task and takesrelationships you become too flexible and intolerant, too
longer than the parent believes is necessary toagreeable and difficult to get along with. The stress of
complete an undertaking.impatience is not only physically unhealthy, it blocks
Parents most commonly feel agonized by the pain ofyour ability to access clear and reasonable judgment,
impatience when their child displays impatience, likecreativity, and deep understanding. It lowers your
when an infant cries during the time it takes for you tomorale. If it builds up too much, it can drive you into
cater to a need, or when a 5 year old whines, "Whenvery destructive behavior.
are we going to get there?" at the beginning of aAs you replace your impatience with focused
lengthy car trip, and every five minutes after that.relaxation, your hurry with a calm but competent pace,
Parents often express impatience toward their childyour frustration with the time things take with calm
when he repeats an inappropriate form behavior againconfidence, you teach your child how to patiently deal
and again despite the parents efforts and pleas forwith what happens and how to patiently work for
change. Parents also tend to feel impatient withwhat she wants. Avoid routinely pressuring your child
themselves when their child's problematic behaviorto hurry up or you instill in the child a pattern of
requires their intervention but they can't come up withpressuring others, himself and life to hurry up. When
an instant way to "fix" it.your child's antics begin pressing your buttons, discipline
Particularly for children under six, no amount of verbalyourself to pause before reacting, to establish yourself
explanation will help the child deal with delayedin peace and poise before straining for control.
gratification, because in the first six years children learn,Beyond modeling, a great way to teach children
primarily, by example. After the age of six, thepatience is in the garden or with a flower -pot. Involve
behavior you model continues to impose a significantthe child in the process of planting a seed, caring for it,
influence upon the child, though. You have toand watching it grow. As the child observes changes,
consistently demonstrate authentic patience aroundexplain how everything in life takes a certain amount
your child and toward your child to teach your childof time to happen. However, avoid the common error
patience. As you demonstrate a genuinely patientof trying to teach patience by impatiently scolding the
attitude around and toward your child of any age, youchild for how long it is taking for his improved behavior
instill that virtue in your child. To the extent that youto happen.
react impatiently to your child, to others around your