The Importance of Learning to Wait

One of the most important lessons to teach children and teens in the Instant Gratification Generation is to feel comfortable with waiting. This is even more important for children and teens of this generation. We have a generation directly impacted by the rapid development of technology. These kids have known nothing other than full access to the digital world. Answers to questions are provided within seconds thanks to Google, directions to a new restaurant are provided via GPS, any TV show missed can be found "on demand", and people are available to solve problems in an instant via cell phone. The result is that today's growing children and teens are learning to navigate the tumultuous world with the aid of all these modern conveniences - and therefore expect instant solutions to their problems.

Parent Tip:
When we were kids waiting was naturally built into every day activities. That is no longer the case. In fact, the opposite is true. Because the trend is to make things quicker and easier, parents need to really find opportunities to make their children wait for things. If you are engaged in something and your child makes a request, develop an automatic response to let him or her know what you are doing and how long he or she will have to wait. For example, say, "I'd love to help you with that. Let me finish what I am doing and I will be with you in a few minutes." The younger the child is, the shorter the waiting period. It is also great to share a reason for why your child is waiting: for example, "I need to make a phone call first," "When I finish this chapter," "When I put dinner in the oven," and so on. This helps children learn they are part of a family unit and their parents' activities are important too.

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Welcome to our blog!

Welcome to our blog! We are so excited to provide a forum to discuss topics that are so relevant to raising kids in the Instant Gratification Generation. This page will include parent tips, current events, and resources that directly relate to raising children in this generation.

As clinical psychologists, we have worked with families and educators for over twenty years. Recently, we have found ourselves marveling at the number of children and teens who become easily frustrated when asked to solve a simple social dilemma or deal with a problem on their own. In addition, parents, teachers, and coaches are all talking to us about their concerns about what they are seeing. They see children and teens who expect their problems to be solved right away. With the rapid changes in technology convenience is expected and there are fewer opportunities for children and teens to figure things out on their own. We hope that the information offered in this blog helps parents and educators navigate these unique challenges.