Learning Patience

The other day I was sipping a latte at my favorite Starbucks, researching material for a blog—really. I happened upon Jan Kemp’s creative weekly plan book called Growing up Together. In it, she develops simple activities for a preschooler and parent to do together to reinforces various character qualities.  The chapter on developing patience stopped me mid-sip.

Here’s Kemp’s definition of patience:  “We are being patient when we work on something or wait for something without getting upset or giving up.”

Let’s be honest.  Patience is doesn’t come easily to most of us.  At times, I need a refresher course on patience as much or more than my kids.

True confession time.  Recently my extended family celebrated the 4^th of July out of town. Because we weren’t able to come along, I called, hoping to at least join in the fun vicariously.  No one answered the phone on the first try, so I left a message.  A day later, imagining all I was missing out on, I called back.  I was disappointed when no one answered again.  I left another message. I didn’t hear back.  I pictured them sitting around the table telling stories and laughing, without me! So in an effort to prompt a response, I called twice in a row to get them to notice my call.

Of course I got zinged by Jan’s definition of patience.  I was demonstrating the patience of a 3-year-old!  “Me first” is the tone of impatience.  I wanted my family members to call me back on my time table.  Now!  Not surprisingly, I felt ashamed when I got what I wanted by being annoying.

Yes, patience is a trait worth working on—the earlier the better.  Jan Kemp’s book has a creative, kid-friendly activity to develop the concept of patience:

On the first day, using construction paper, draw a picture of a butterfly.  Ask the child to color the butterfly according to your directions.  Explain the definition of patience and add: Butterflies must be patient to get out of their cocoons and you need to be patient to color this picture. Each time one of us is patient, let’s put a butterfly on the calendar to mark the day.

On the second day, cut out or draw a picture of a butterfly at least four inches long.  Roll it gently and place it inside a toilet tube.  Wrap the tube with brown paper, making sure both ends are covered. The child must not know about the butterfly inside.

1.  Discuss the meaning of patience with your child.  Explain:  Patience means waiting or working on something without getting upset of giving up. Ask him or think of a time with he acted impatiently.

2. Give him the green paper and scissors and have him cut out a green caterpillar. Explain: Caterpillars know how to do three things: crawl around, eat a lot of leaves and make a special sleeping bag. God puts these three directions in the mind of every caterpillar. We call it instinct when animals know what to do.

3.  Pretend the toilet paper roll is a tree branch. Have you child make the caterpillar crawl onto the roll. Use piece of tape to hold him to the outside of the roll. Use the toilet paper to make his sleeping bag. Very gently wrap the paper around the whole thing. Wrap until the caterpillar is covered by the sleeping bag around him. Make sure the end for the roll remains accessible so you can pull out the hidden butterfly later.

4.  Explain: The caterpillar must be patient while his work transforms into something special. He waits and waits until he knows it is time to work again.

5. Wiggle the roll like something is trying to come out.  Say: Little by little the caterpillar comes out from the sleeping bag and sees what he has become! Break through the paper on the end of the roll and pull out the hidden butterfly.

6. Explain: When we are patient and do what we are supposed to do without losing our tempers or giving up, beautiful changes will happen in our lives too.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who is waiting for their house to sell without losing her temper or giving up!