Autistic Child Can’t Wait: How to Teach Waiting

Waiting can be especially difficult for autistic children because time is abstract and “wait” does not explain how long something will take. Make waiting visible with a timer and clearly show what will happen afterward. Give the child something manageable to do while waiting, such as looking at a book, drawing, listening to music, or using a fidget. Start with very short waits—even 10 or 30 seconds—and slowly increase them. Practicing achievable waits helps build patience without making the child repeatedly experience failure.