Self Control
Practicing self control
Month 10 · Activity 12 · Character Traits
Instructions
- Place 10 white jelly beans, 10 sliced pieces of jicama, or white miniature marshmallows in front of child at a table (choose an item that would be a treat to child)
- Tell child they can have 1 jelly bean/jicama/marshmallow now OR they can have all of them if they wait 5 minutes sitting at the table
- If they wait 5 minutes you will also read an extra story now or at bedtime
- If they agree to wait, set a timer for 5 minutes (or less) and leave child at table
- Watch discretely and see what happens
- If child makes it for all 5 minutes, chat about how they now receive all the jellybeans/jicama/marshmallows and have an extra story
- If child fell short of the 5 minutes praise them for their effort - but no jelly beans, marshmallows or story as they need to learn about consequences
* We based this activity on this well-known laugh out loud "Marshmallow Study". Watch it here
Extend
The original "marshmallow test" was at Stanford University in the 1960's. The time was 15 to 20 minutes of waiting for a four year old. Here is a summary of the test.
Materials
- 10 white jellybeans/slices of jicama/ or mini marshmallows
- story (optional)
Math & Science Skills
Social Skills
Problem Solving Skills