Introduction

Patience is a valuable skill that helps students navigate social situations and cope with feelings of frustration. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching students how to wait patiently and provide a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators incorporate this concept into their lessons.

No-Prep Activity

The “Waiting Game” is a simple, no-prep activity that can be used to teach students the importance of waiting patiently. To begin, have students sit in a circle. Select one student to be the “waiter” and ask them to stand in the center of the circle. The waiter’s job is to stand still and wait patiently while the other students take turns performing an action, such as clapping their hands, stomping their feet, or snapping their fingers. The waiter must remain patient and wait for their turn to perform the action. Once all students have had a turn, the waiter can choose the next student to take their place in the center of the circle. This activity not only teaches patience but also helps students practice self-control and develop empathy for others who may be waiting.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is waiting patiently an important skill to learn?
2. How do you feel when you have to wait for something you really want or are excited about? How do you handle those feelings?
3. What strategies can you use to help yourself wait patiently?
4. What are some situations where it is important to wait patiently?
5. How can practicing patience benefit you and others around you?

Related Skills

Teaching students to wait patiently is an important aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills that can help students develop patience and self-control include:

• Active listening: Encourage students to listen carefully to others and ask questions to ensure they understand the speaker’s message.
• Empathy: Teach students to put themselves in another person’s shoes and consider their feelings and perspectives.
• Self-awareness: Help students become more aware of their own emotions and learn to recognize when they are feeling impatient or frustrated.
• Problem-solving: Encourage students to think critically and come up with solutions to challenges they may face when waiting.

Next Steps

Incorporating the skill of waiting patiently into your lessons can have a significant impact on your students’ social-emotional development. To help you get started, we invite you to sign up for free samples of our waiting patiently materials and other related resources. These materials are designed to assist educators in teaching valuable social-emotional skills and help students build a strong foundation for success in their personal and academic lives.