Teaching Patience Through Play
Teaching Patience Through Play
Patience doesn’t develop automatically. It grows with practice, coaching, and opportunities to wait, take turns, and tolerate small frustrations. And the BEST way to learn patience in early childhood isn’t through lectures — it’s through playful practice.
Play teaches children how to:
pause
listen
share space
cooperate
handle “not yet”
With the right games and routines, patience becomes something your child can feel rather than simply hear about.
Why Patience Is Hard for Young Children
Kids experience time differently. Waiting five minutes can feel like an hour. Their brains are still developing:
impulse control
emotional regulation
delayed gratification
Instead of “misbehavior,” think:
“My child’s brain is practicing a skill.”
Patience isn’t about compliance — it’s about neurological growth.
When we treat it this way, frustration softens.
Use Turn-Based Play as Practice
Classic children’s games build patience beautifully:
board games
card games
marble mazes
stacking blocks
rolling a ball back and forth
Turn-taking teaches:
waiting with excitement,
cheering for others,
tolerating delay.
Say:
“It’s okay to feel eager — waiting is part of the game!”
If you’d like more inspiration for turn-based learning, see Teaching Patience and Focus Through Turn-Based Play, which pairs perfectly with this article.
Try Cooperative Games (Not Just Competitive Ones)
Competition can trigger impatience. Cooperative games teach children to:
share goals
encourage each other
celebrate progress over winning
Try:
“work together” puzzles,
building towers as a team,
moving objects collaboratively with spoons or cups.
Say:
“We’re waiting because it helps our team succeed.”
Kids learn patience feels purposeful, not punishing.
Use Countdown Signals (Visuals Make Waiting Easier)
Children understand time better when they can see it.
Use:
timers,
sand hourglasses,
countdown hand signals,
“five-more-minutes” cards.
Visual cues reduce anxiety and help children adjust their expectations.
In emotionally overwhelming moments, pairing countdowns with regulation strategies from Managing Emotional Overload During Busy Days can prevent meltdowns.
Practice “Freeze Games” to Strengthen Self-Control
Play:
Freeze Dance
Red Light/Green Light
Simon Says
These games build inhibitory control — the ability to pause impulses.
After playing, reflect:
“Your brain stopped your body! That’s patience!”
Kids love feeling proud of inner strength.
Build Waiting Into Daily Routines (In Tiny Doses)
Everyday life offers micro opportunities:
waiting to pour syrup,
waiting for the gate to open,
waiting to push the elevator button,
waiting for a sibling’s turn to speak.
Say:
“We take turns because everyone matters.”
These tiny reps add up over time.
Narrate Waiting Strategies Out Loud
Model your thinking:
“We’re waiting in line. I’ll take a deep breath.”
“I’ll look around while I wait.”
“I’ll think about something I’m excited for.”
Kids copy what we say to ourselves.
This gentle modeling complements emotional coaching strategies in Helping Kids Express Sadness Without Shame, where children learn to work WITH feelings, not fight them.
Celebrate the Process of Waiting
Praise patience, not just the outcome.
Try:
“You waited quietly — that helped everyone feel calm.”
“You took deep breaths while you waited!”
The brain tags patience as positive when we spotlight the behavior.
Process praise builds emotional identity — an idea explored more deeply in The Power of Praise: When and How to Use It.
Offer Scripts for Social Patience
Give kids words to use when they feel eager:
“Can I be next?”
“Will you tell me when you’re done?”
“I’d like a turn after you.”
Teach empathy scripts too:
“Take your time.”
“I’ll wait while you finish.”
Practicing language grows both patience and kindness.
If your child struggles when peers exclude them, pairing this with When Kids Feel Left Out: How to Support Them will help build social resilience too.
Final Thoughts for Parents
Patience isn’t taught with reminders — it’s built with opportunities.
When you:
use turn-based games,
model internal self-talk,
celebrate waiting,
give visual cues,
coach scripts,
…your child learns emotional endurance — the ability to manage excitement, disappointment, and anticipation.
Patience is a gift that grows gradually, gently, and playfully. And when you practice it alongside your child, you’re doing more than teaching waiting…
You’re teaching presence.
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