Patience is a very important part of our daily lives as we work with children and families; especially for those of us who work with children in classrooms. Sometimes it’s not easy, but we must remember to always slow down.
Moving too fast through an activity or through a transition will not help but instead cause you stress or frustration, which you may transfer to the children in your room. When they get frustrated, children might give up and get fed-up with you.
It takes practice to build patience. You need to trust the process and allow things to unfold. There is real power in pausing; sometimes all you need is an extra second or two to let go of control. Life is like a roller coaster; these children are learning and not all of them will learn to do thing at the same rate. All they need is for you to be patient and let them take their time.
There are so many benefits of patience in everything we do and how we deal with those children and families. Research shows that patient people tend to be more cooperative, more empathetic, more equitable, and more forgiving. When children experience patient adults, they are more relaxed and happier.
By Sandra Nabwire, Mental Health Assistant
