Practicing Patience
Practicing patience will help children get better at waiting.
Little ones don’t understand time the way that grown-ups do! Sometimes even a few minutes can feel like an hour, and it can be difficult to wait patiently. Though kids can’t be expected to wait for long stretches, you can find fun ways to pass the time. Try to:
- Give kids a special challenge such as spying things that are red, counting people in line, or making up a story about something they see.
- Look around and do a letter or word hunt! Help kids search for the first letter in their name, or for a particular word, such as “stop” on a stop sign.
- Explain time in a way that little ones will understand. If kids ask, “How long?,” you might say, “As long as it takes to brush your teeth,” or, “As long as it takes to walk to school.”
As kids learn more strategies for keeping busy while waiting, it will get easier and easier to be patient!
Listen, Feel, and See with Elmo
When children are in the hospital, this mindfulness game can help them soothe themselves.
Using Your Words
A coloring page helping children explore words for big feelings.
Cookie Monster’s Beach Day
When children are in the hospital, their imagination can become a valuable tool in soothing themselves.
Monster Meltdown
Meltdowns happen… but they are somewhat predictable! As you try to handle them, curiosity and patience go a long way.
Toddler Tips: Meltdowns
Strategies for during and after a meltdown…and even some ways meltdowns might be avoided.
Safe & Together
When families have to leave home in order to stay safe, it helps to remember that home is where the love is.
Bubble Time
A quiet activity such as blowing bubbles can help both children and adults breathe deeply, slow down… and calm down.
