Understandably, small children don't have much patience for waiting around. They don't care if you're waiting in line to pay for their shoes; they've had to shop all morning. They don't want to wait in the doctor's office for immunizations; they're tired and cranky and now someone is going to stick a needle in them.
With a little creativity, however, these waiting periods can be more enjoyable. Here are some ways to turn waiting time into quality time:
Doctor Appointments
The doctor/dentist office provides ample time for child's play. You can read children's books and magazines together. Use the building blocks provided to test your architectural skills. Why not use these lengthy waits to teach your child to tell time? Watch the clock together and count the minutes. (Hopefully you won't get into hours...)
Restaurants
While waiting in a restaurant for the food to arrive, it's easy to lecture on the virtues of patience while quickly losing your own. Try another approach. Serious bonding can occur while coloring the children's menu together. If art is not your forte, you can play tic-tac-toe and practice writing letters or spelling words. In return, your child may allow you to eat your food in peace.
Supermarkets
The supermarket can be less of a headache if you use your imagination. Try giving your child a box of animal crackers. As your child uses the brain (by naming the animals) and fills the belly (so you don't get growled at), you may have a chance to get groceries. Children enjoy selecting the groceries you need. Count the items as they go in the cart or categorize the food--vegetables, dairy, meat, etc. Older children can estimate the grocery bill in their heads or with the use of a calculator. Children can be helpful in unloading the cart in the checkout line.
Road Trips
There's no reason to dread a lengthy car ride with children. This can be the ultimate learning opportunity. Try looking for numbers or letters of the alphabet on license plates of passing vehicles. The "counting game" is a fun way to pass time. For example, hold up three fingers on one hand and two on the other. The first child to guess five would win. Offering a cracker or grape for each right answer helps to alleviate the hunger pangs between rest stops. Try singing silly songs or saying nursery rhymes. Always keep a stash of drawing materials in the car. When going somewhere new, children can draw pictures of the anticipated destination.
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