For a while now, whenever I am invited for a meal at my parents’ place, I would play a little game with my niece and nephews. I would give them a cookie or bread or something, but before I give them, I would hover infront of their mouth and count to them “One, … Two, … Three … ” before they get their treat.
My point to my sisters (mothers of my experiments) is that kids these days are too conditioned towards instant gratification. My count down approach is what I think would train them to learn to wait. Interestingly, my niece J would wait patiently, even when I sometimes delay the count down with 2.5, 2.75 etc … she (four years old now) would giggle and know that I am playing with her. My nephew R started off being rather haughty, refusing to open his mouth when I start the countdown. Granted, he is 1+ years younger than J, so perhaps he is slowly developing patience. Furthermore, the mental development of boys and girls are known to start at different ages.
Today, I read an interesting article about just that.
