What should I do when my child melts down while waiting their turn in queues? 

Parenting Perspective 

Prepare Them for the Wait 

For a young child, waiting in a queue can be overwhelming. A meltdown is often a signal that they have not yet developed the skills to cope with impatience. Parents can help by preparing them for the wait before leaving home, explaining what to expect. It is also useful to have a simple, engaging activity ready, such as telling a story or playing a quiet game. This redirects their focus from the frustration of waiting to a moment of connection. 

Practise Patience in Small Steps 

You can practise the skill of waiting in small increments at home. For example, ask your child to wait just one minute for a snack and then offer warm praise for their patience. When a meltdown happens in public, it is crucial to remain calm yourself. Acknowledge their feelings with empathy: ‘I know waiting is difficult, but we are nearly there.’ Pairing reassurance with these strategies helps them to build resilience without shame. 

Frame Waiting as a Life Skill 

Through consistent guidance, children learn that delays are a normal part of life. They begin to see that handling these moments with calmness is a strength they can carry with them far beyond the queue, into every aspect of their lives. 

Spiritual Insight 

Patience as a Condition for Success 

Islam values patience (sabr) as one of the highest virtues. The Quran teaches that advising one another to be patient is a defining quality of those who are successful in the sight of Allah. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Asr (103), Verses 2-3: 

‘Indeed, mankind shall surely (remain in a state) of) deprivation (moral deficit), except for those people who are believers and undertake virtuous acts; and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and dissemination of) the truth and encouraging (cultivating within themselves and with one another the realisation and accomplishment of) resilience.‘ 

Patience: A Gift from Allah 

The prophetic tradition describes patience as the best and most comprehensive gift that a person can be granted. This teaches us that it is not just a learned skill, but also a blessing from Allah that comes to those who strive for it. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, 1469, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever practises patience, Allah will give him patience, and no one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience.’ 

An Opportunity to Grow in Faith 

When you connect the mundane act of waiting in a queue to the noble Islamic virtue of patience (sabr), your child learns a profound lesson. They start to see these delays not as obstacles, but as opportunities to grow in character and draw closer to Allah.