Waiting pocket activity
1–2 yearsSuccess MindsetMaterials: Small soft toy, textured ball, or safe household object
Give your child a small soft toy or textured object to hold in their hands while waiting for short periods. The object gives them something to focus on and manipulate. This distraction strategy helps make waiting easier. It teaches your child that holding something can help during waiting times.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Give your child a small soft toy or textured object to hold in their hands while waiting for short periods. The object gives them something to focus on and manipulate. This distraction strategy helps make waiting easier. It teaches your child that holding something can help during waiting times.
Why It Works
Distraction strategies help children manage the difficulty of waiting, especially when self-control capacity is still developing. Children who successfully delayed gratification used distraction and self-talk strategies, showing better outcomes decades later (Mischel et al., 1988). Teaching toddlers simple distraction tools like holding an object helps them start developing their own waiting strategies.
Tips for Parents
Choose something safe that your child can squeeze, twist, or explore with their hands.
Use the same object consistently so it becomes associated with waiting.
Keep waiting times very short, under 30 seconds at first.
Materials Needed
Small soft toy, textured ball, or safe household object
Learning Methods
Language-Rich EnvironmentMontessori Practical Life Activities
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