Fun Waiting Games: Learning Patience with “Ready, Set, Go!”

Materials Needed

• A timer, phone timer, or sand timer
• Three small toys or stuffed animals
• Paper and crayons
• Building blocks or plastic cups
• A favorite song
• Optional: picture cards showing “stop,” “wait,” and “go”

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Explain that “waiting” means staying calm until it is time to begin.
• Practice waiting for a short time, such as 10–30 seconds.
• Follow the directions “stop,” “wait,” and “go.”
• Use one calm strategy while waiting, such as taking a breath, counting, or singing.

Success Criteria

Success looks like this:

• I can stop when I hear “stop.”
• I can wait until I hear “go.”
• I can use a calm body while I wait.
• I can tell or show one thing I can do while waiting.

Introduction: What Does Waiting Mean?

Time: 5 minutes

Hold a toy in your hand and say:

“This toy wants to play, but it is not time yet. What can it do while it waits?”

Let the child share an idea. Explain:

“Waiting means staying calm until it is time to do something. Waiting can feel hard, but we can help our bodies wait.”

Quick Movement Warm-Up

Say the following actions and let the child copy you:

• “Stop like a statue!”
• “Wait with quiet hands.”
• “Go—march in place!”

Repeat the game several times, changing the order. Celebrate careful listening.

Body: Learning and Practice

Part 1: I Do—Show a Calm Wait

Time: 5 minutes

Place a toy just out of reach. Model the following steps:

1. Put hands in your lap.
2. Take a slow breath in and out.
3. Count slowly to five.
4. Say, “I can wait.”
5. Reach for the toy when you hear “go.”

Say:

“First I stop. Then I wait. I take a breath. When I hear ‘go,’ I can begin.”

Ask:

• “What did my hands do while I waited?”
• “What did I do with my breath?”
• “When could I pick up the toy?”

Part 2: We Do—Ready, Set, Go!

Time: 10 minutes

Choose a simple activity, such as rolling a ball, jumping, building, or moving a toy car.

1. Tell the child what to do: “When I say go, roll the ball to me.”
2. Say, “Ready…” and pause.
3. Say, “Wait…” and pause for five seconds.
4. Say, “Go!”
5. Repeat several times, slowly increasing the waiting time.

Use a calm strategy together during the pause:

• Count to five.
• Take one big breath.
• Wiggle fingers quietly.
• Whisper, “I can wait.”

Formative check: Ask, “What will you do while we wait?” Look for the child to choose or demonstrate a calm strategy.

Part 3: You Do—Waiting Toy Challenge

Time: 10 minutes

Place three toys in a row. Invite the child to choose one toy to use first.

1. The child chooses a toy.
2. The other toys “wait.”
3. The child gives the waiting toys a job, such as sitting quietly, taking a pretend nap, or watching.
4. Use the timer for 10–30 seconds.
5. When the timer rings, switch toys.

Say:

“The red car is waiting. What can it do while it waits?”

Offer choices:

• “Should it sit quietly or take a pretend nap?”
• “Would you like to count or sing while you wait?”

Give specific feedback:

“You kept your hands calm and waited until the timer rang. That showed patience.”

Part 4: Hands-On Choice Activity

Time: 10 minutes

Let the child choose one activity:

Choice A: Build and Wait

Build a small tower together. Take turns placing one block at a time. Each person waits while the other person adds a block.

Choice B: Stop-and-Go Dance

Play a favorite song. Dance while the music plays. Freeze when the music stops. Wait until the music begins again.

Choice C: Draw a Waiting Picture

Ask the child to draw a picture of something they wait for, such as a meal, a turn, a visit, or a game.

Talk about the picture using simple questions:

• “What are you waiting for?”
• “How does your body feel while waiting?”
• “What could help you wait calmly?”

Real-World Connection

Explain that people wait in many places:

• Waiting for a turn on a swing
• Waiting for food to be ready
• Waiting for a grown-up to finish speaking
• Waiting for a favorite show or activity

Practice this sentence together:

“I can wait. I can breathe, count, or sing while I wait.”

Assessment

Formative Assessment

During the activities, observe whether the child can:

• Stop when asked.
• Wait briefly for a signal.
• Follow “stop,” “wait,” and “go.”
• Choose a calm waiting strategy.

Summative Demonstration

Invite the child to complete the following challenge:

1. Stand or sit ready with a toy.
2. Stop when the adult says “stop.”
3. Wait calmly for 10–30 seconds.
4. Use a breath, count, or quiet song.
5. Begin when the adult says “go.”

Celebrate effort rather than perfect waiting.

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Time: 5 minutes

Ask the child to finish these sentences:

• “Waiting means…”
• “While I wait, I can…”
• “When I hear ‘go,’ I can…”

Review the lesson:

“Today we learned to stop, wait, and go. We learned that breathing, counting, and singing can help us wait with a calm body.”

End with a cheerful “Ready, set, go!” race to a safe finish line.

Differentiation and Adaptations

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Begin with a one- or two-second wait.
• Use a visual “wait” card or hand signal.
• Wait beside the child and breathe together.
• Use highly preferred toys and give immediate praise.

For a Child Ready for More Challenge

• Increase the waiting time gradually.
• Ask the child to lead the “stop, wait, go” game.
• Invite the child to invent a new waiting strategy.
• Practice waiting during a real routine, such as preparing a snack or taking turns in a game.

Flexible Learning Options

• Homeschool: Practice waiting during snack preparation, story time, or outdoor play.
• Classroom: Use the game during transitions and turn-taking activities.
• Training or group setting: Have learners role-play waiting in a line, waiting for a turn, or waiting for instructions.
• Digital option: Use a visual timer and play stop-and-go movement games over video.