Learning Patience through Games

Learning patience through games is a natural way to work our character-building lessons into everyday life. Teaching kids character doesn’t have to be overly complicated. It often involves bringing the trait to light intentionally so as to have conversations about character while doing everyday things.

Want another great lesson on patience? Check out this fun Play-Doh activity.

CHARACTER BUILDING SERIES

Welcome to my character-building education series where we work on 52 traits throughout the year. 52 traits? Yes! That is one character-building trait for every single week of the year.

More good news! Each trait comes with over a week’s worth of lessons. You could work on character with your kids every single day of the year if you choose to follow along.

This character-building activity focuses on patience. Here is our initial lesson in patience. If following the series, always do that lesson first. Click here for all of my lessons on patience.

This lesson introduces kids to Herbert the Snail and the benefits of having patience.

While this series is written by a Christian mom, there are lessons available no matter what your faith. If you believe it is important to teach your kids patience, you are in the right place.

Subject: Patience

Objective: Kids will practice exhibiting patience through everyday activities.

PATIENCE VERSE

“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV

The scripture above is the memory verse for our character-building week about patience. Work daily on this verse so kids can commit it to memory, thus writing the Word of the Lord in their hearts.

Ask:

We are about to play a game. We are also learning about patience this week. How do you think you will need to show patience throughout this game?
Do you find it hard to be patient during games? Why or why not?

Learning Patience through Games

A great way to practice patience with kids is to play board games. Learning patience through games makes a lesson fun and relatable to real life. That’s what we did today.

Creating simple opportunities to discuss character traits helps kids solidify what they are learning through play.

We played one of their favorite games, “Cooties” (Amazon Affiliate Link). This was one of my childhood games, also. Thanks, Mom. Board games teach kids patience because they need to learn to wait for their turn and wait for the desired outcome (the right number rolled in this case).

Skills and knowledge are taught to children through board games. They learn colors, counting, reading, communication, competition, sportsmanship, sharing, encouraging, and alas…patience.

While this is a simple lesson today, I do want you to overlook the value in talking to your kids through the concept of character traits in everyday living. If we focus on the word of the week while we are doing simple things like playing a board game, it reiterates all that we are trying to teach our kids about becoming people of high character.