Keeping Children Calm When There’s a Long Wait

Even some adults can have a lack of patience when it comes to waiting, so it’s no surprise when children can’t behave during long waits. Yes, it can be aggravating and certainly annoying, but when we share the world with others, there are bound to be times when waiting our turn is part of the status quo. Here are a few ways to help keep your kids calm during long waits when their patience (and yours) is long gone and replaced with that dreaded crankiness.

Bring a Long-Lasting Snack

If you know you’ll be stuck at the DMV or a long wait at the post office or grocery store, bring a treat to keep your child occupied. The longer the treat lasts, the better, so make it count. You can go for a naturally sweetened lollipop as an option. The sweetness will make your child happy and the pop will last long enough to make it through the wait. Be sure to let your child know that she will only get the pop in the first place if she behaves so it doesn’t become a reward for impatient behavior. Another long-lasting snack is a baggie of cereal or pretzels. The crunch will soothe frustration and keep her blood sugar levels steady. With a snack on hand, the wait won’t seem as daunting.

Take Along a Special Toy

Designate one toy or small game as your child’s travel buddy. This toy only comes out when you will be in a situation where you will have to wait. The excitement of seeing her toy will far outweigh the bore of waiting. She can choose her own toy or you can surprise her. For older kids, you can allow them to bring a handheld video game or let them to play on your smartphone. By keeping busy with something enjoyable, the wait will go by quickly. Keep things fresh by swapping out the toy every so often. Before you know it, your child will look forward to long waits!

Play Some Tunes

Tune out the wait by letting your child bring her own earphones with some soothing or upbeat music. Make a playlist together which she can listen to as you wait. Time will go by in a snap when her favorite tunes are playing. Your kiddo will be bopping along to the music and the wait will become something fun. Change up the playlist now and then so she doesn’t get bored. On the way home, you can both sing along during the car ride!

How do you make the wait more tolerable for your kids? We would love to hear your tried and true suggestions. For more information like this, please visit All My Children.

By: Melissa A. Kay