Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Here is one way to teach waiting or accepting "not yet" to a toddler. You will have to have something that the learner wants. After the learner has played with an item for a short while, the instructor will take a turn. In this video, our learner already responds to the instruction "my turn" and shares items without additional prompting. If the learner doesn't already share, the instructor can either prompt sharing, or can bring in new items that are potentially more interesting to the learner. Once the learner initiates a request or attempts to obtain the item, the instructor gives the statement (SD) "wait" or "not yet". As long as the learner waits calmly for the designated period of time (as defined for that learner), then give the item back to the learner. Increase the duration of waiting over time as the learner is successful.
Here is one way to teach waiting or accepting "not yet" to a toddler. You will have to have something that the learner wants. After the learner has played with an item for a short while, the instructor will take a turn. In this video, our learner already responds to the instruction "my turn" and shares items without additional prompting. If the learner doesn't already share, the instructor can either prompt sharing, or can bring in new items that are potentially more interesting to the learner. Once the learner initiates a request or attempts to obtain the item, the instructor gives the statement (SD) "wait" or "not yet". As long as the learner waits calmly for the designated period of time (as defined for that learner), then give the item back to the learner. Increase the duration of waiting over time as the learner is successful.
