In 2018 Melbourne published research that investigated some of the influences that affect high school completion, and it’s a particularly surprising factor that has one of the strongest impacts – patience. The results showed that a more impatient child is far less likely to graduate from high school, even controlling for other factors like academic achievement, behavioural problems, risk attitudes, demographics, household environment and parents’ characteristics.
Patience matters the most for ‘at risk’ children, and they would benefit considerably from the targeted educational incentives and monitoring practices. These kids, or those around them, don’t have the tools to deal with or manage impatience, which is getting in the way of them achieving an important educational milestone.
It is too early to know what works best since no systematic assessment yet exists of the approaches to help children with different behavioural tendencies. But options might include offering strategies to help children cope or providing commitment action plans to help kids govern their impatience. Teaching strategies could also be identified that help develop a child’s non-cognitive skills like conscientiousness, perseverance and attention.
Further information on this topic can be found here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/your-zesty-self/201109/four-steps-developing-patience
