Tolerating Waiting

Teaching Patience and Self-Regulation Through Structured Wait-Time Practice

“Tolerating Waiting” is an ABA strategy that equips learners to handle delays calmly—whether they’re in a checkout line, waiting for a preferred item, or transitioning between classroom activities. By pairing clear time cues (visual timers, countdowns) with engaging wait-time tasks, BCBAs, teachers, and parents can turn frustrating pauses into opportunities for self-regulation and independence.

Why use Tolerating Waiting?

• Fewer tantrums and protest behaviors. Research on delay-tolerance training shows significant reductions in problem behavior when waiting is paired with predictable visual timers and alternate activities.
• Improved self-regulation and coping. Systematic practice of wait-time strategies strengthens executive-function skills, enabling learners to select and sustain calming or fun “waiting games” independently.
• Generalization to real-world settings. Teaching wait tolerance during role-play and everyday routines translates to smoother outings, classroom transitions, and therapy sessions without added prompting.