Everyone wants their children to be happy and successful. Today however, “success” is often defined by test scores. While important, there are more essential skills we can teach a child to help them be successful in the future.
The teaching of “patience” helps a young child learn endurance. Once learned, they will walk confidently through the doors that teachers and parents present. Adults however have to set an example. We have to model this behavior. Children need to learn that the path to success in anything is usually a long road. It is o.k. to take their time. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
The process is not easy. We live in a society that demands instant gratification. Fast-food, fast-paced, always on the move. Don’t forget instant messaging and a “faster” online experience. So many “things” to do. Always searching for the clock. This club, that club, this sport, that sport. We have to work at “patience”. It requires many hours of training and discipline to achieve success at anything. We must explain to our children that they can and should delay gratification. Learning is a process and once achieved they become better scholars and people.
The arts can teach patience. Music teaches children how to focus and listen. Practicing an instrument and learning a musical “piece” over time leads to mastery. Art projects can take several months to be completed. Children learn to see the finished product develop over time, not instantly. Difficult books and essays become less problematic when they learn that “Rome wasn’t build in a day”. Read a longer book every night with your child over a period of months, not days. Try a 1000 piece jig-saw puzzle. Remember, it takes patience to teach patience. If we model our busy lives then how can we expect our children to act differently?
You can apply these principals to the child care environment. At The Tender Nest, over time, patient collaboration between provider and parents will produce desired results that yield a better prepared and more successful child. So let’s slow down, take it easy and take our time. Our children will win.
A special thank you to Parentguide News, June 2010 (www.parentguidenews.com)
