1) find out how long to wait; 2) choose a quiet activity; 3) wait calmly; 4) praise yourself.
Free printable chart
One page, US Letter, with a box for every step and every day of the week. Put it on the fridge and let your child tick the boxes.
Prefer A4? It prints fine with “fit to page”.
The 4 steps, with a tip for you
- Find out how long to waitParent tip: Use a simple marker: one song, three minutes.
- Choose a quiet activityParent tip: A book, drawing, or a toy.
- Wait calmlyParent tip: Start with a short time.
- Praise yourselfParent tip: Highlight the patience.
Make it a quest instead of a reminder
Instead of repeating the instruction, start with a tiny story. In Mess Monsters this routine opens like this: “Bed Lump is learning to wait. Shall we help them last a little more calmly?”
You stay the game master. Your child does the real step, you confirm it on your phone, and Bed Lump gets a little happier with every step. The phone stays with the adult; the routine happens in the real world.
Run this routine in Mess Monsters
This routine is part of Mess Monsters Premium. The core routines are free. You can also make your own quest by describing the routine in your own words.
