Here's What To Do
Invite your child to practice waiting.
Give them a simple counting task to complete when you leave the room (like: counting red things in the room, teddy bears in the room, etc.).
Walk to another room and come back (spend about 30 seconds outside of the room before you return). Ask your child how many things they counted.
Repeat, changing the objects your child is counting. As they become more comfortable with the game, ask your child to choose the item they count.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Pretend to hold a flower in your hands, and ask your child to pretend to smell the flower. Did they feel themselves taking a slow, deep breath?
Engage:
- "We're going to practice waiting with a fun counting game. Are you ready to play?"
- "Wait here while I walk out of this room and then come back. When I leave, can you count all the red things you see?"
Encourage:
- "I know it can be so hard to wait sometimes. You're doing a great job practicing!"
- "I'm thinking that playing this counting game makes the waiting time feel shorter. Does it feel shorter to you?"
Reflect:
- "What are some other times or places we could play this waiting game?"
Not quite ready?
Leave the room for only a few seconds to allow your child to feel successful at waiting. Slowly increase the length of time you leave as they get the hang of it.
Ready for more?
Play the game in real-life waiting situations like at the doctor's office or in line at the store.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to use this game to wait calmly.