Patience & Persistence

Patience and persistence are powerful skills that can help kids work through frustration and accomplish goals. You can help them build these skills using the strategies below. 

Introduce “The Power of Yet” 
Let children know that just because they can’t do something now, that does not mean they won’t ever be able to do it. Teach them the phrase, “I just can’t do it yet.” Remind them that learning something new takes time and practice. You might say, “Remember when you did not know how to button your shirt. You tried and tried and now you can do it all on your own!” 

Breathe, Think, Do 
When children have a frustrating moment, it can be difficult for them to find the tools to calm down. To help, teach them these steps: 

• Breathe: Encourage children to slowly take three deep breaths. 
• Think: Help children come up with some possible plans to solve their problem. 
• Do: Together, choose a plan and try it out. If it doesn’t work, try another. 

Embrace Mistakes 
You can help children be more persistent when you show them that mistakes are okay—in fact, they are an important part of learning. Let children see you make mistakes and stay positive after making them.