Waiting your turn

Personal & Social Development · Self-Regulation & Resilience · ages 5-7

Name ______________________ Date ____________

What is one way to help yourself wait?
- Yell louder
- Think about something else
- Grab the toy
You want a turn on the slide. Someone else is on it. What should you do?
- Wait for your turn
- Push them off
- Yell for your turn
Waiting is a skill you can practice and get better at.
Circle one: True False
Sam wants a cookie before dinner. Mom says wait until after dinner. What can Sam do to help himself wait?
- Think about something fun
- Complain loudly the whole time
- Sneak the cookie anyway
Look at the line for the swing. Whose turn is next?
- Ben's turn
- Amy's turn
- Your turn
Why do we sometimes have to wait for things?
- Because waiting is fun for everyone
- Because other people or things need time too
- Because we did something wrong
Two kids want the same swing. Mia waits calmly and thinks about her favorite game. Ben yells and pushes. Who used a good waiting skill?
- Mia
- Ben
- Neither of them
Leo says, 'I can't ever wait, I always cry.' Is Leo right?
- Yes, some kids can never learn to wait
- Yes, crying always means you cannot wait
- No, waiting is a skill Leo can practice and improve

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Think about something else · Thinking about something else can make waiting feel shorter.
Wait for your turn · Waiting for your turn is the kind thing to do.
True · Just like riding a bike, waiting gets easier with practice.
Think about something fun · Thinking about something fun helps the wait feel easier.
Your turn · You are next after Ben and Amy have their turns.
Because other people or things need time too · We wait because turns, cooking, or helpers take time.
Mia · Mia waited calmly instead of pushing or yelling.
No, waiting is a skill Leo can practice and improve · Everyone can get better at waiting with practice, even Leo.