Practice what You Preach

Today is day 21  of The Nester's challenge. To read all of my posts on my 31 Day Challenge to Practice Patience go here.

You know that some of the most impatient people on this earth are kids. And we have taught them how to do it so well. We are always telling them to "wait your turn", "wait until you are older". We want our kids to be patient without understanding that developing patience takes times. (I am finding out that it is going to take me a lot longer than 31 Days!)

The very meaning of the word patience: the ability to endure a difficult situation without complaining, means that you need the ability to stay calm and show self-control.

Very small kids have no concept of time. So, if you want them to learn to be patient you have to tell them how things are going to happen in sequence. You cannot tell a kid that he can have a cookie in 30 minutes. You need to let him know that first you have to mix the dough, then bake them in the oven, then let them cool, and then he can have a cookie. As they start to get older they will have a better understanding of time and this tool will no longer be needed.

There are games like chess or puzzles that help kids to pass time while they are waiting for something. This deals with their frustration, which leads to impatience.

We all know how much kids have the "I wants" or the "give me's" but a simple technique to teaching them how to have patience while they wait for the things that they want is to have them make a Wish List and write things down. This really helps my grand kids  And sometimes when they look at the lists later on, they even decide they really didn't want that particular thing anymore.

One of the best activities that I know of to teach kids patience is to have them help with the planting of a garden. They will end up with a reward for their patience. I am the one with the least patience waiting for my garden to grow. But then, again, I am the one who needs to Practice Patience. 

Allowances are known to help kids learn patience. They can save up for the BIG things that they want. And it will also show them how long it takes sometimes to save for something. It teaches them perseverance. Don't give up!

Caregivers should model patience to kids. I know, I know. You are thinking how can I model any behavior if I can't be patient myself. Well, I am not perfect and I am working on it. Remember, Practicing Patience. But I am aware that kids are watching and learning.

I picked up these tips from a little church pamphlet that we were given a few years ago in a class that I took. Obviously the class didn't help me all that much....but I will continue on Practicing Patience. 

These are not MY kids.
No kids were harmed during the writing of this post!