Delay of gratification: A little imagination goes a long way!

Delay of gratification: A little imagination goes a long way! Kidaptive Tips and Tidbits   Sometimes asking your child to wait for something feels like asking them to perform superpowers.  The ability to delay gratification can be a tough skill for kids to learn because it requires them to give up an immediate reward in order to get a more valuable one later on.  However, research has shown thatdelay of gratification can be encouraged and even taught by using cognitive strategies specifically designed to help kids combat the emotional desire to get what they want right now. This is where those superpowers come in!  First, find or construct a “superhero” cape for your child.  When it’s time to delay gratification, get out the cape.  Tell them, “This is a Superman (or Superwoman) cape.  And Superman has special powers.  He’s a superhero with lots of patience and he knows how to wait really well.” This simple activity helps children by encouraging them to imagine themselves as someone who can tackle the frustration of having to wait; in fact, onestudy found that it tripled the amount of time children could wait for a reward!  Even if you don’t have a cape handy, research shows that simply encouraging children to pretend works wonders.  Your learner is a natural-born player, and pretending allows them to use their best skills to be more successful at a difficult task. Once mastered, the ability to delay gratification is a superpower that will continue to help your child soar long after they’ve outgrown their cape!