How To Be Patient With Kids: 5 Ways to Consider

Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by Lori Pace

Raising children can be difficult and requires patience. Yes, it’s rewarding. Yes, it’s amazing. But it can also be challenging. You are not the only one who struggles with patience. Be gentle with yourself. These 5 tips will help you be a better parent. You can take it one step at time. And, remind of how to be patient with your kids.

Listen To Your Child

Listening is the first step to patience as a parent. Your child needs to know you are listening and paying attention. Ask your child what is bothering him. To show that you are listening, pay attention, make eye contact and repeat a few phrases. This is what we call “active listening“.

Listening to your child will make them more open to listening to you. They will know you care about them and are able to understand what you have to say.

Learn To Redirect when It Comes to How To Be Patient With Kids

Sometimes your child may need to be redirected. You might need to redirect your child if they are acting out, having a tantrum. Or even if they are trying to escape from a loud toy. 

Redirecting can help in any case. You can try to get your child’s attention by making it simple and quiet. You might try “Hey, would you like to color?” or “How high can you build this tower?”

Set on Small Goals instead of a One Big Goal

You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself, as we have said. You won’t be able to develop patience overnight as a parent. It takes repetition and practice. Do not try to make everything perfect immediately. Instead, focus on small goals. You should be patient in one area. What is your morning routine? 

Ask your children to tidy up their toys. Find the problem area and take baby steps to make it easier. Once you have established one habit, it’s possible to move on to the next. The more simple the goal, the greater likelihood that it will stick.

Don’t Forget Your Own Needs

Parents often neglect their own needs. You need to take care of your children while you are taking care of them. You also need to get enough sleep, nutrition, quiet time, and socialization. Parents can feel self-absorbed when they take care of their children. If you are one of these parents, think about it this way: The better you take care of yourself, the more energy your children will have.

It helps to take baby steps. What’s one thing you can do for yourself? You don’t need to think big. You can make that one thing a habit and then add another to your self-care routine.

Get Some Extra Help of How To Be Patient With Kids

It’s okay to call in extra help. Perhaps you could hire a babysitter to watch a movie once a week. Perhaps you could consider enrolling your child at a preschool that allows you to work independently throughout the week. 

Preschool is a great option for many families. You will have extra childcare support, and your child will gain solid skills that will help them in kindergarten and beyond. Your child will also learn social skills and make new friends.