Patience

Hands-on options

In the busyness of day-to-day life, we often forget to look for opportunities to teach our children God-honouring character traits. These ideas require very little preparation, making it easy for you to share some simple but memorable lessons with your kids. Read over the options at the beginning of your week and choose one or two that will fit your schedule.

Filter options by:
  • Fruit ripening

    Fun with food

    Taste some green (unripe) fruit, then wait until it’s ripe and try it again.

    Discussion point: Many rewards are more fulfilling if we wait for them.

    View option
  • Give patience a fighting chance

    Any time, Drive time

    Catch your kids bickering and use these questions to help them see how patience can change the outcome.

    Discussion point: “A patient man calms a quarrel.”

    View option
  • Growing “patience candy”

    Science with a twist

    Grow sugar crystals over several days, then save or eat your candy.

    Discussion point: Patience is a Fruit of the Spirit; it takes time for it to grow in us.

    View option
  • Mealtime manners

    Fun with food

    Practice patience by learning some mealtime manners involving patience.

    Discussion point: Mealtime is more enjoyable when we show patience and good manners.

    View option
  • Patience fruit

    Any time, Drive time

    Tell this story about a girl who experiences the challenges and joys of growing her own garden.

    Discussion point: The Holy Spirit helps us grow in patience.

    View option
  • Patience in nature

    Getting into nature

    Discuss how birds need to be patient while incubating their eggs. As need arises, chirp like a baby bird to remind your children to be patient like a momma bird.

    View option
  • Patience makes perfect

    Creative crafts

    Choose a craft that requires careful and patient work.

    Discussion point: Talk about how being patient and persistent led to a great craft in the end.

    View option
  • Patient Polly tossed a bally

    Physical activity

    Toss a ball to each other while saying this rhyme about patience, and enjoy a small treat as a reward.

    Goal: Have fun reinforcing patience.

    View option
  • Puzzling patience

    Creative crafts

    Do a challenging jigsaw puzzle together. Here are three ideas for your jigsaw puzzles, including one you can make yourself.

    Goal: Practice patience.

    View option
  • Rewarding cotton balls

    Any time

    Decorate a jar each, then reward your children with a cotton ball for their jar when they are patient.

    Discussion point: Let’s have soft “cotton” hearts that are patient with others.

    View option