How Can Small Jobs Help My Child Wait Patiently? 

Parenting Perspective 

Periods of waiting, whether at the doctor’s surgery, before dinner, or in a queue, can often lead to fidgeting and frustration in children. Young ones struggle because waiting feels passive and powerless. By giving them a small job, you can transform this idle time into an active and manageable experience. 

Select Simple, Age-Appropriate Tasks 

Offer your child a straightforward task that is suited to their developmental stage. This keeps them engaged without causing any feelings of being overwhelmed. 

• For a young child, this could be holding a shopping list, carrying a very light bag, or counting the chairs in the room. 

• For an older child, you might ask them to help organise belongings, hand out napkins for the table, or read a sign aloud. 

Give the Task a Clear Purpose 

Children respond more positively when they feel their contribution is important. Framing the task as a helpful job gives them a sense of responsibility, which naturally reduces impatience. 

• ‘Can you be my special helper and hold the tickets for us?’ 

• ‘I need you to remind me when the number 25 appears on the screen.’ 

Introduce a Playful Element 

Turning a small job into a mini-game can make the waiting time feel much lighter and more enjoyable for everyone. 

• ‘Let us count how many people are wearing hats while we wait.’ 

• ‘Can you find three things in this room that are the colour red?’ 

Acknowledge Their Helpful Contribution 

When your child completes their task or waits patiently, be sure to acknowledge their effort with specific praise. This positive feedback reinforces the idea that patience can be an active and helpful state. 

• ‘You kept yourself busy so calmly. That was very helpful, thank you.’ 

• ‘I really liked how you focused on your job while we waited.’ 

For example: 

Child: (fidgeting) ‘When will it be our turn?’ 

Parent: ‘Waiting is hard, I know. Can you be my helper and watch for when the screen shows our number? That will really help us.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Keeping children occupied with small, purposeful actions during periods of waiting reflects a core Islamic principle: combining patience with useful deeds. Islam encourages us to act with dignity and purpose, even in life’s pauses. 

Patience Through Good Deeds 

The challenge of waiting is an opportunity to choose a better action over a frustrated one. How we conduct ourselves in these small moments is a part of our worship. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mulk (67), Verse 2: 

‘It is He (Allah Almighty) Who has created mortal expiration and life so that you may be tested; as to which one a few (conducts himself) in better deeds; and He is the Most Cherished and the Most Forgiving.’ 

This verse reminds us that life is a test of our actions. Even in moments of waiting, we can choose to act with patience and good effort rather than impatience. 

The Value of Time 

The guidance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ teaches us not to let time pass in idleness, as every moment is a blessing from Allah. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, 2333, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.‘ 

This hadith underscores that waiting time is a gift, an opportunity to engage in something meaningful rather than wasting it in frustration. By offering small jobs, you teach your child that patience is not empty but can be filled with responsibility, creativity, and service.