Waiting Games: 50 Fun Ideas to Pass Time with Young Children

50 Fun Ideas to Pass Time with Young Children and Teach Waiting Skills

One of the most common challenges parents and teachers face is helping young children navigate the tricky terrain of waiting. Whether standing in line at the grocery store or even at a theme park a place I am only in because they want to do it, sitting in a doctor’s office, or enduring a long car ride, children often struggle with patience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore why children find waiting so difficult, discuss evidence-based strategies to help them develop patience, and provide 50 engaging activities to keep them occupied during wait times. This ties in with a post we wrote a couple of years ago about the “wait box” we used in class to teach waiting skills.

Understanding the Challenge of Waiting

Children’s brains are wired for immediate gratification. Their prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for impulse control and decision-making, is still developing. This biological reality makes it hard for them to understand and manage the concept of delayed gratification.

Additionally, children live in the present moment. They have limited ability to conceptualize future events, which makes waiting for something feel like an eternity. Their perception of time differs significantly from adults, causing frustration when they can’t have what they want immediately.

Lastly, children are naturally curious and energetic. Sitting still or remaining inactive for extended periods goes against their innate desire to explore and learn about their environment.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Developing Patience

Research in child psychology has identified several effective approaches to help children cultivate patience, most of these come from a study by Hauser (2019):

1. Modelling patience: Children learn by example. When adults demonstrate patience in challenging situations, children are more likely to emulate this behaviour.
2. Clear communication: Explaining the reason for waiting and providing a timeframe can help children better understand and accept the situation.
3. Positive reinforcement: Praising children when they exhibit patience encourages them to repeat the behaviour.
4. Gradual exposure: Starting with short waiting periods and gradually increasing the duration helps build tolerance.
5. Distraction techniques: Engaging children in activities during wait times can make the experience more enjoyable and seem shorter.
6. Mindfulness practices: Simple mindfulness exercises can help children focus on the present moment rather than the anticipated future event.

Practicing Patience: Everyday Opportunities

Incorporating patience-building exercises into daily routines can significantly improve a child’s ability to wait. Here are some practical ways to practice:

1. Cooking together: Following recipes teach children to wait for the final product.
2. Planting seeds: Watching plants grow over time helps children understand longer waiting periods.
3. Turn-taking games: Board games or sports that require taking turns reinforce patience.
4. Delayed gratification exercises: The famous “marshmallow test” can be adapted at home. Offer a small reward now or a bigger one if they wait.
5. Countdown calendars: For longer waits, like vacations or birthdays, visual calendars help children track time.
6. “Pause” practice: Encourage children to take a deep breath and count to five before reacting to situations.

50 Fun Waiting Games and Activities

These games require minimal or no materials, making them perfect for various situations out and about.

Imagination and Storytelling Games:

1. “I Spy”: The classic game of spotting objects in the environment.
2. Story Chain: Each person adds a sentence to create a collaborative story.
3. Would You Rather?: Ask silly questions like “Would you rather be able to fly or breathe underwater?”
4. Guess the Animal: One person thinks of an animal, and others ask yes/no questions to guess.
5. Imaginary Restaurant: Pretend to run a restaurant, taking orders and “serving” food.

Memory and Observation Games:

6. Memory Tray: Show objects on a tray, remove one, and guess what’s missing.
7. What’s Different?: One person changes something about their appearance, others guess what changed.
8. License Plate Game: Find letters of the alphabet on license plates in order.
9. Cloud Shapes: Identify shapes in clouds (works great for outdoor waits).
10. Reverse I Spy: Describe an object without naming it, others guess what it is.

Physical Waiting Activities (for appropriate settings):

11. Simon Says: Follow instructions only when prefaced with “Simon says.”
12. Finger Olympics: Thumb wrestling, finger races, or creating finger animals.
13. Silent Dance Party: Dance to imaginary music without making noise.
14. Mime Time: Act out activities or objects without speaking.
15. Balancing Act: Try to balance on one foot for as long as possible.

Word and Language Games:

16. Categories: Choose a category (e.g., animals) and take turns naming items.
17. Rhyming Chain: Say a word, the next person says a rhyming word, and so on.
18. Alphabet Game: Name items in a category in alphabetical order.
19. Word Association: Say a word, the next person says the first word that comes to mind.
20. Twenty Questions: Think of a person, place, or thing. Others ask yes/no questions to guess.

Math and Number Games:

21. Counting Cars: Count specific coloured cars passing by.
22. Math Facts Race: Practice addition, subtraction, or multiplication facts.
23. License Plate Math: Add or multiply the numbers on license plates.
24. Estimation Station: Guess how many items are in a jar or how long until an event.
25. Number Spy: Find numbers in the environment in sequential order.

Drawing and Art Activities:

26. Tic-Tac-Toe: The classic pen-and-paper game.
27. Hangman: Guess letters to complete a word or phrase.
28. Dot-to-Dot: Create a simple dot pattern for the child to connect.
29. Collaborative Drawing: Take turns adding to a drawing.
30. Invisible Ink: “Write” on each other’s backs and guess the letter or word.

Problem-Solving Games:

31. What Doesn’t Belong?: Name four items, three related and one not. Guess the odd one out.
32. Riddles: Share age-appropriate riddles for children to solve.
33. “If I were a…” Game: Complete sentences like “If I were a color, I’d be… because…”
34. Spot the Difference: Describe two nearly identical scenarios, spot the differences.
35. Mystery Bag: Describe an object hidden in an imaginary bag for others to guess.

Sensory and Mindfulness Activities:

36. Rainbow Hunt: Find objects of each color of the rainbow in the environment.
37. Texture Detective: Identify different textures in the immediate surroundings.
38. Smell Guessing: Identify familiar scents with eyes closed (if appropriate).
39. Body Scan: Guide children through a simple body awareness exercise.
40. Finger Breathing: Trace the outline of one hand with the other, breathing in and out with each finger.

Travel-Specific Games:

41. License Plate Bingo: Create a bingo card with different state names.
42. I’m Going on a Picnic: Memory game where each person adds an item to the picnic list.
43. Car Color Graph: Keep a tally of car colors seen, make a graph at the end.
44. Road Trip Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of common road trip sights to find.
45. Map Tracking: Follow the journey on a map, learning about geography.

Random Waiting Games:

46. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament: Play multiple rounds to crown a champion.
47. Charades: Act out words or phrases without speaking.
48. Name That Tune: Hum or whistle songs for others to guess.
49. Who Am I?: Stick post-it notes with character names on foreheads, ask yes/no questions to guess.
50. Telephone: Whisper a phrase down the line, see how it changes.

Tips for Playing Waiting Games for Children of Different Ages

In our family we have children from 4-14. We have written about ideas for activities when the children have an age-gap, the same goes for waiting games. Tailoring waiting games to different age groups is key to keeping children engaged and entertained. Here are some additional tips for making these games more appealing across various age ranges:

For Toddlers (2-3 years):

1. Keep it simple: Use basic concepts and rules that are easy to grasp.
2. Incorporate movement: Even small motions like wiggling fingers or toes can be exciting.
3. Use repetition: Toddlers love repetitive games and songs.
4. Engage their senses: Focus on texture, color, and sound-based activities.
5. Praise frequently: Toddlers thrive on positive reinforcement.

Examples:

• Play “Pat-a-Cake” with variations
• Sing simple songs with hand motions
• Practice animal sounds and movements

For Preschoolers (3-5 years):

1. Introduce basic turn-taking: This age group is starting to understand social rules.
2. Use their growing vocabulary: Word games can be simple but engaging.
3. Tap into their imagination: Pretend play is at its peak during these years.
4. Incorporate basic counting: They’re beginning to grasp numerical concepts.
5. Keep activities short: Their attention span is still limited.

Examples:

• Play “I Spy” with colours or shapes
• Create simple stories together
• Count specific objects in the environment

For Early Primary (6-8 years):

1. Add competitive elements: They enjoy the challenge of winning.
2. Introduce more complex rules: Their cognitive abilities allow for multi-step games.
3. Incorporate reading and writing: If appropriate for the setting.
4. Use logic and problem-solving: They’re developing critical thinking skills.
5. Allow for more independence: They can often lead games themselves.

Examples:

• Play word association games
• Create simple math challenges
• Engage in more complex storytelling exercises

For Older Primary (9-11 years):

1. Increase complexity: They can handle more sophisticated games and concepts.
2. Encourage creativity: They often enjoy coming up with their own games or variations.
3. Incorporate their interests: Link games to their favorite subjects or hobbies.
4. Use technology if available: Educational apps can be great for passing time.
5. Promote teamwork: They can engage in cooperative games.

Examples:

• Play trivia games about their favorite topics
• Engage in word puzzles or riddles
• Create collaborative stories with more complex plots

General Tips for Playing Wait Games for All Ages:

1. Be flexible: Be ready to switch games if one isn’t working.
2. Involve choice: Let children pick from a few options to increase engagement.
3. Use the environment: Adapt games to your surroundings, whether you’re in a car, waiting room, or outdoors.
4. Model enthusiasm: Your excitement can be contagious.
5. Reward patience: Acknowledge when children wait well, regardless of the game’s outcome.

Remember, the key is to match the game’s complexity and content to the child’s developmental stage and interests. What works for a 3-year-old might bore a 10-year-old, and vice versa. By having a variety of age-appropriate options and being willing to adapt on the fly, you can make waiting times not just tolerable, but genuinely enjoyable for children of all ages.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of simply talking with older children. Engaging them in conversations about their day, their thoughts, or their interests can be one of the most rewarding ways to pass time and strengthen your relationship. One of the ways I do this as small talk is not by strong point is to look up the TV show or Anime they are talking about and ask about the characters, what else the actors have been in etc.

Conclusion

Waiting doesn’t have to be a dreaded experience for children or their caregivers. By understanding the challenges children face with patience, implementing evidence-based strategies, and having a toolkit of engaging activities, we can transform wait times into opportunities for learning, bonding, and fun.

What works for one may not work for another. Be patient with the process of teaching patience. Celebrate small victories and keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable. With practice and persistence, children can develop the valuable life skill of patience, setting them up for success in school, relationships, and beyond.

References Used

Casey, B. J., Somerville, L. H., Gotlib, I. H., Ayduk, O., Franklin, N. T., Askren, M. K., Jonides, J., Berman, M. G., Wilson, N. L., Teslovich, T., Glover, G., Zayas, V., Mischel, W., & Shoda, Y. (2011). Behavioral and neural correlates of delay of gratification 40 years later. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(36), 14998-15003. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1108561108

Duckworth, A. L., Gendler, T. S., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Self-Control in School-Age Children. Educational Psychologist, 49(3), 199–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2014.926225

Hauser, M. D. (2019). Patience! How to Assess and Strengthen Self-Control. Frontiers in Education, 4, 435054. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2019.00025