the child patiently waits to be a
Answers
Explanation:
Very important: To teach patience-stretching you must have something your child wants (food, a toy, etc.). Once you have that, follow these simple steps:
First, almost give her what she wants. Let’s say your 1-year-old interrupts you, asking for juice. Stop what you’re doing and repeat back, “Juice! You want juice!” Start to hand her the juice…BUT…then suddenly hold up one finger and exclaim, “Wait! Wait! Just one second!” as if you just remembered something important. Turn away and pretend to look for something.
Next, the “payoff.” After just a few seconds, turn back and immediately give your child the juice, praising her, saying, “Good waiting! Good waiting!” Quickly rewarding your child’s patience teaches her that waiting isn’t so bad and that Mommy always keeps her word.
Little by little, stretch the waiting time more and more (5 seconds, then 10…30…60, etc.). If you practice this every day, your child will be able to wait a minute or two (or more) within a week. Patience-stretching will build your tot’s self-control…one step at a time.
Timers help toddlers practice patience. During a calm period, show your toddler how the timer works: “See! And when Mr. Dinger says ding! (make it chime) then Mommy comes back fast!”
Later, when your 3-year-old starts bugging you for something, say, “Sure!” and almost give it to him, but then suddenly announce, “Wait, wait! Just a second, sweetheart! I have to go see Daddy. As soon as Mr. Dinger rings I can give you the ____!” (You might suggest that your child play or look at a book until the timer dings, but don’t insist on it.)
Initially, set the timer for 20 seconds. When it rings, come right back, give your child a little praise (“Hey, good waiting!”) and a check on the hand, and immediately keep your promise. Gradually increase the waiting period to a minute or two. But every once in a while, surprise him by: 1) setting the timer for just 10 seconds (he’ll think, Wow, that minute goes by really fast). 2) Giving a double reward (“Hey, you waited so well…here are 2 cookies!”). He’ll think, Wow, waiting is cool…Sometimes I get even more than I expected! Later in the day, gossip to his teddy bear about his “great waiting” at bedtime, remind him what a good job he did being patient that day.