How to Teach your child to be Patient

Patience is something I've always wanted to teach my child. I consider it a necessity for facing everyday challenges and one of the greatest armors she can use to navigate life in the future. Being short-tempered or having a quick fuse won't help her become a desirable person. I want my baby to approach her problems calmly and with a positive mindset.

From her early months, we focused on introducing her to the art of patience. This may sound a bit unusual to some, but we believe it’s important to instill this value early on. When she wanted something—except for food and milk, of course—we wouldn’t immediately give in to her requests. For example, if she desired a toy or something that caught her attention, she would sometimes throw a tantrum or cry. Rather than depriving her, we would gently remind her, “WAIT, please…” and then count to three. After that, we would hand her what she asked for. This became a routine as she grew.

At first, the results were subtle. However, by the time she turned 15 months, our efforts started to pay off. We were delighted to see that she learned to be patient, even in small situations. Now, when we say "wait," she does so without complaint.

So, my advice to fellow moms out there is to be patient while teaching your child. They will absorb these lessons bit by bit. Don’t give up when you don’t see immediate results; it’s not always easy. Remember, our kids look up to us and see us as their role models, so it’s essential to demonstrate the qualities we want them to embody. Avoid pressuring your child, as it can be counterproductive. Stay calm and be patient—it's worth it!

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Picky eater toddler - No! No!

I spent the whole day tweaking this blog, and I'm excited to say it’s 90% finished! I’m really loving the way it looks. As I was writing this first "formal" post, the weather outside turned gloomy, prompting me to think of a specific topic to discuss. (Ding!)

Two weeks ago, I was scouring the web for tips and tricks to get my toddler to eat better, as she’s quite a picky eater. I know many parents struggle with this, and it really worries me. During my search, I came across Samantha Lee, a cook and a mom who also faced challenges with her children’s eating habits. To tackle this, she began creating unique food arrangements for each meal to entice her little ones to eat.

Here’s a photo taken from her Instagram:

How I wish I could do the same thing! If you're also a mom facing similar challenges with a picky eater, you might want to try those creative food arrangements to make meals more appealing. But if that’s not your style, I have a great book recommendation for you. 

French Kids Eat Everything is a fantastic read that delves into parenting, nutrition, and fun ways to engage your little ones at the dinner table. It offers practical tips and strategies that can help you encourage healthier eating habits without the stress.

I have a soft copy of this book that I bought from an online site, but I haven’t finished reading it yet. I’ll update you soon with my review!

In my quest to help my picky eater, I’ve found some additional tips that seem to be working. So far, she’s eating a lot more cereals and fruits, which I think is great! During mealtimes, I’ve learned not to force her to eat, as I really don’t want her to develop a negative association with food. When it comes to the foods she doesn’t like, we still offer them but in moderation. I believe that over time, she’ll grow to appreciate the taste as she matures.

We also make a conscious effort to limit her intake of salt and sugar, and I’m happy to report that she’s doing much better compared to the last few months. I’ll definitely create a part 2 of this post to share more tips and updates on our journey with picky eating! Stay tuned! :)

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