Patience Activities - Building Character in your Children

10 Activities about PATIENCE:

1) PLANT A GARDEN Gardening takes patience because we must wait on God’s timing. Plan a garden for the spring….there’s so much they can learn from it! http://www.ehow.com/how_110539_start-vegetable-garden.html

2) MAKE BREAD FROM SCRATCH Start by explaining that most of the work has already been done. We don’t have to plant the grain, tend to it, harvest it, thrash it, winnow it or grind it up. All we have to do is open the bag of flour, mix, knead, rise and bake it. It’s a process that can’t be rushed and requires patience.

3) PACK A PATIENCE BAG Help your child pack a small bag that they can have in the car or take with them to places where they may have to be patient. It can include a notebook, pencil, card game, toy…whatever they choose.

4) ANYTIME/ANYWHERE Teach your child games and activities that they can do anytime anywhere (nothing needed). Some examples are “I SPY”, “20 Questions”, “Rock, Paper, Scissors” or the “And Then” game. (That’s where kids take turns telling a story; when they are ready for the next person to start telling the story they say “And Then”) Include activities they can do alone, like, counting the squares on the floor, count the cars that go by, find every letter in the alphabet, people watching, etc..

5) “FARMER BOY” Read this classic by Laura Ingalls Wilder aloud to your children. They will hear how things used to be. It is the story of what Almonzo’s life was like at 9 years old. Boys and girls will be amazed at how much work was involved in day to day life. They will hear about how Almonzo patiently waited to be able to train his dad’s horses.

6) DO A PUZZLE Constructing a puzzle or a model or anything that takes more than a day, helps a child learn patience. For younger children, playing simple games where the players take turns will encourage patience. You can help them understand the concept by saying, “I am having fun watching everyone else go as I patiently wait for my turn.”

7) A PENNY SAVED Is there something your child really wants? Don’t miss the opportunity to let them earn it themselves. Give them a list of extra chores that you would pay them to do. Let them figure out other ways to earn money (shoveling sidewalks, walking pets) and make it an event when they get to go make their purchase.

8) GO FISHING What a great way to learn patience! So many fun things to look at, to think about and to talk about while you are waiting for the fish to bite. There’s a fishing pond near the intersection of River Styx and Blake Road.

9) PATIENCE IN THE BIBLE Read the stories of Joseph and Jacob. What did Joseph do while he was waiting in jail? What did Jacob do while he was waiting to marry Rachel? (You could also do Job and David). Act out the stories. Do they have anything in common? Does the Lord ever use waiting time to draw us closer to him?

10) WATCH A SUNRISE OR SUNSET Weather permitting, lay outside with your child at dusk and watch the colors change as the sun slowly descends. Notice each little change that happens moment by moment. Then watch the stars pop into view. There’s so much more we see when we patiently watch.