In many ways today, all of us, including our children, live in a world where instant gratification is the norm (access to streaming video content, gaming apps, etc., right on our phones and iPads). Preschool children are egocentric and their ability to wait is very much developing. One of the primary goals of our PreK program is to encourage our students to self-regulate. Patience is an important life skill that helps children regulate their big emotions and handle challenging situations. Self-regulation can counteract impulsivity and inclination to make poor behavior choices. Patience improves our physical, emotional, and social health.

Every day in the PreK classroom we provide opportunities to practice waiting. For example, students need to raise a quiet hand to share at circle time or wait their turn with an activity or toy. We support this skill by noticing and giving praise, for example, “Thanks for waiting so calmly for your turn to talk” or “You waited patiently while I was helping another friend.” If you are interested in learning more about strategies and the value of practicing patience, please read the attached article.

Patience Is Learned: Here's How to Teach Your Kids to Wait