What is a pocket routine that helps a child wait for their turn at the park? 

Parenting Perspective 

For a young child, waiting for a turn on a swing, slide, or climbing frame can feel like an eternity. This impatience often leads to pushing, whining, or attempting to skip the queue. A simple, predictable ‘pocket routine’ can help them manage this feeling, teaching them how to wait calmly while respecting others. 

Acknowledge the Wait 

Start by giving a clear and simple explanation of the situation to reduce their uncertainty. For example, you can say, ‘It is not our turn yet. We will wait until the other child is finished’. This clarifies the expectation and validates their desire to play. 

Introduce the Routine 

This involves a short sequence of actions that you can repeat every time they need to wait. The routine could include: 

• Taking three slow, deep breaths together. 

• Counting aloud to twenty. 

• Playing a quick spotting game, such as, ‘How many dogs can we see?’ or ‘Can you find something blue?’ 

This simple trick transforms waiting from a passive, frustrating experience into an active and engaging activity. 

Reinforce Positive Behaviour 

Once their turn arrives, connect this positive outcome directly to their patience. You might say, ‘You waited so patiently, and now it is your turn! Well done.’ Doing so frames patience as a rewarding strength rather than a punishment, encouraging them to repeat the behaviour. 

Lead by Example 

Demonstrate calm waiting yourself. Stand peacefully, offer a gentle smile, and refrain from complaining or showing frustration. Children are highly observant and often learn more from your actions and body language than from your words. When your child says, ‘I want the swing now!’, you can respond, ‘I know it is hard to wait. Let us do our pocket routine: three breaths, count to twenty, and then we can check if it is our turn.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Teaching a child to wait calmly extends beyond practical manners; it is a form of spiritual cultivation. Islam places great value on fairness, patience (sabr), and respecting the rights of others, principles that apply even in the simple context of a playground. 

The Virtue of Patience 

Patience is a quality deeply cherished in Islam. It is a sign of strong faith and a key to receiving blessings from 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.’ 

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that patience is a cornerstone of faith and a key to success, even during moments of play. 

The Importance of Fairness 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasised the importance of treating others with kindness and fairness, which is a fundamental aspect of the Islamic community. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1935, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Do not envy one another, do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another, but be servants of Allah as brothers.’ 

This hadith gently teaches children that being fair and kind to others, whether in a queue or during play, is an expression of their brotherhood and sisterhood in faith. By introducing a pocket routine for waiting, you provide your child with a tool for learning, helping them discover that patience not only makes playtime more enjoyable but also reflects the beautiful manners central to Islam.