While We're Waiting

It is estimated that Americans will spend 37 billion hours each year waiting. For a child, waiting is a particularly challenging task due to their underdeveloped executive function (EF) network in the brain.

Executive function refers to the management system of the brain. It is the mental skills and processes that enable us to focus attention, adapt to new and unexpected situations, remember instructions, control impulses, regulate emotions, set and achieve goals, problem solve, plan and organize. These
mental skills are the basis for higher order cognitive functions. We use these skills constantly as we learn, work and manage daily life.

Did you know…
Learning to wait is a crucial life skill and dealing with the emotions of waiting is a method of self-control.
The emotions generated by waiting are frustration, anxiety, regret, annoyance, and uncertainty.
Waiting causes children to feel stress. Physiological reactions to stress are…
- temper tantrums
- whining
- attention problems
- distracting behaviors
- aggressive outbursts
- inability to sit still

Child development experts agree that the average period of time a child can successfully wait or maintain focus on a given task is 2-3 minutes per year of age. (Ex. 4 yrs. old = 8-12 minutes). Children can be taught to wait more patiently and their capacities to do so improve with positive interactions and
support during challenging tasks.

Do you use waiting as an OPPORTUNITY to build crucial brain connections, life skills and strengthen relationships?
THIS APP is a tool for doing just that!

When waiting with your child in a line or at a restaurant, or to relieve boredom and pass the time, what best describes your parenting practice?
A) Have child do something on my phone; movie, game etc.
B) Play some kind of game with your child like “I Spy” or another activity like a song or story
C) You look at your phone
D) Let them figure it out, in other words you don’t do anything

The activities in this app are research based and had to MEET criteria established in literature to build executive function by PROVIDING ...
- opportunities for memory practice, sequencing, problem solving, and cognitive flexibility
- ATTENTIONAL DEPLOYMENT STRATEGIES that reduce negative emotions
- adequate brain breaks with physical movement or mindfulness
- positive familial interactions thus strengthening relationships and