What can I say kindly when a toddler wants to run off in a waiting room? 

Parenting Perspective 

Toddlers often find waiting rooms to be either overwhelming or intensely boring. For a small child, sitting still feels unnatural, and their natural curiosity will push them to explore their surroundings. While your first instinct might be to snap, ‘Sit down now!’, guiding them with kind but firm words will help them to feel secure without turning the situation into a power struggle. 

Set Clear, Simple Limits 

Use short, calm, and easily understood phrases. For a toddler, gentle repetition is the key to understanding and internalising boundaries. 

• ‘Chairs are for sitting on. You can play with your special toy right here with me.’ 

• ‘In this room, we must stay in our space until it is our turn to be called.’ 

Redirect Their Energy 

Offer safe and quiet alternatives that can be enjoyed while sitting still. This simple act helps to shift their focus from a desire to run towards a feeling of calm engagement with you. 

• It is always wise to bring a quiet toy, a small book, or a healthy snack to help them through the wait. 

• Suggest a simple game: ‘Can you spot anything blue in this room?’ or ‘How many lights can you see on the ceiling?’ 

Use Gentle Warnings to Prevent Escalation 

If you see them starting to get up or become restless, you can intervene early with a gentle reminder. This type of early intervention helps to prevent the situation from escalating. 

• ‘Your feet need to stay on the floor while we are in here. If you are feeling wiggly, we can try wiggling our fingers and toes instead.’ 

Acknowledge Their Need to Move 

You can also name their feeling to show empathy for their struggle. 

• ‘I know you really want to move your body right now. It can be very hard to wait.’ 

• ‘We will have lots of space to run and play after we leave. For now, our job is to sit together.’ 

• Toddler: (Trying to run off) Parent: (Gently) ‘I can see you want to move. In this room, we need to sit. Let us look at this book together until it is our turn.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Patience in small, public moments is a significant part of a parent’s spiritual test. Teaching a toddler to wait calmly is a practical reflection of the Islamic values of discipline and gratitude, even in the most ordinary of places. 

Holding Back for Goodness 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verses 134: 

‘ Those (the believers are the ones)that spend (in the way of Allah Almighty) in times of abundance and hardship; they suppress their anger; and are forgiving to people; and Allah (Almighty) loves those who are benevolent.‘ 

This verse reminds us that restraining our frustration, even with a restless toddler in a public place, is an act of goodness that is beloved by Allah. 

The Prophet ﷺ on Mercy With Children 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 893, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ kissed his grandson Al-Hasan ibn Ali. A man who was present said, ‘I have ten children and I have never kissed any of them.’ The Prophet ﷺ replied: 

‘Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.’ 

This beautiful story teaches us that physical and verbal affection and mercy towards children, even when we are setting limits on their behaviour, is the prophetic way. 

By speaking kindly yet firmly, you help your toddler to feel safe, respected, and guided. Over time, they learn that waiting is not a punishment, but a chance to practise patience and good manners lessons that will benefit both their character and their faith.