Little WinsToddler
How do I help a toddler wait?
Waiting is a developing skill, and a tired toddler may need more support than usual. Make the wait concrete and keep expectations small.
Quick Answer
Waiting is a developing skill, and a tired toddler may need more support than usual.
Three Practical Steps
- Tell them what happens next in simple language.
- Bring a familiar safe activity or snack when appropriate.
- Plan a break or an exit for a long wait.
Try one small step
- Tell them what happens next in simple language.
- Bring a familiar safe activity or snack when appropriate.
- Plan a break or an exit for a long wait.
What it might look like
At a checkout, ask them to help hold a safe item rather than promising they will be perfectly still. If the line is too much, adapt the plan.
Make the plan your own
Choose one idea and ask the people involved what support they need. Notice whether it makes the day more manageable, then keep, change, or drop it. You do not have to complete every suggestion. Different ages, abilities, cultures, and family arrangements may call for different choices.
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