Patience is one of the most valuable life skills a child can develop, yet it’s often one of the hardest to practice—especially when they see friends hitting milestones before they do. Whether it’s losing a first tooth, learning to ride a bike, or reaching a big achievement in school, waiting can feel frustrating and lonely.
As parents, we want to reassure our children that they are on their own unique timeline. That’s why books like Wonder in the Waiting help kids understand that waiting is not about being left behind—it’s about growing in their own time.

In this post, we’ll explore:
A) strategies to help children develop patience,
B) ways to foster a sense of belonging even when they feel “behind,” and
C) important life lessons children learn while they wait.​

Helping Children Develop Patience When Friends Reach Milestones First
It’s natural for kids to compare themselves to their friends, but patience is a skill they can build with the right support. Here are four strategies to help your child develop patience:

1. Celebrate Their Own Milestones
Instead of focusing on what hasn’t happened yet, highlight the things your child has accomplished. Maybe they haven’t lost their first tooth, but they learned to tie their shoes, mastered a puzzle, or made a new friend.
👉 Try this: Create a “Look What I Did!” chart where your child can track their own achievements, big or small.

2. Use Positive Affirmations
Kids absorb the messages they hear. Reinforce the idea that they are on their own perfect timeline with affirmations like:
✅ “I am growing at the right time.”
✅ “Great things are worth the wait.”
✅ “My time will come, and I will be ready.”
👉 Try this: Say an affirmation together each morning to start the day with confidence.

3. Teach the Power of Perspective
Help kids shift their focus from comparison to curiosity. Instead of thinking, Why hasn’t it happened to me yet?, they can ask, What can I learn while I wait?
👉 Try this: When your child feels left out, ask them to notice something great about themselves that has nothing to do with a milestone.
4. Read Books That Reinforce Patience
Children’s books like Wonder in the Waiting help kids see that waiting is part of growing up. Reading about characters who experience the same feelings can be comforting and empowering.
👉 Try this: After reading Wonder in the Waiting, ask your child: Have you ever had to wait for something special? How did you feel when it finally happened?

Fostering a Sense of Belonging When Friends Seem Ahead
When children feel like they’re the only ones who haven’t reached a milestone, they may struggle with feeling left out. Here are three ways to help them feel included and valued:

Have you ever heard a child say that milk comes from the grocery store or that vegetables magically appear in the fridge? Many kids grow up enjoying delicious meals without knowing the journey their food takes to get to their plate. Teaching children about the farm-to-table process helps them appreciate farmers, understand nutrition, and become mindful eaters.

Step 1: Start with a Simple Question
Ask your child: Where does food come from? Their answers might surprise you! Some kids might say “the store” or “the fridge,” which is a great starting point for a conversation about farming.

Step 2: Explore the Journey of Food
Here’s a simple breakdown of the farm-to-table journey:

1. Farmers Grow the Food – Fruits, vegetables, and grains start as seeds in the soil. Farmers work hard to plant, water, and harvest them.
2. Animals Provide Dairy, Eggs, and Meat – Cows give us milk, chickens lay eggs, and sheep provide wool. Teaching kids about humane farming practices is important too!
3. Food Gets Transported – Trucks, trains, and boats move food from farms to 

This past weekend, Ernst and I participated in another book fair, but what really stood out was an ongoing literacy exhibit the North Cobb Regional library had going on in their garden. Ernst's book, "I Know a Horse" was featured. We were excited and honored because  not only was his book the only one selected for this exhibit, but also because they purchased copies for circulation.

If you are in the area, request a copy! 

So what does this experience have to do with creative literacy and your family? Read on to find out!

When people think of literacy, they often think of academics, but literacy is the foundation of communication. The more skilled one becomes at the art of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, the stronger he or she can become at building relationships, rapport, and adept personal agency.

Fall break is right around the corner and so often, it’s easy for us to allow more screen time when kids say they are bored. Yes, I’m talking to myself-- the literacy advocate and author. But I'm also the fatigued, and well-meaning parent. Like you, I feel all the mom guilt as my little one does her thing on her laptop or tablet. But I am thankful that she is still managing to develop into a bright and creative person.

A little history.

When our two adult children were small, we were very fortunate to have a lot of time to invest in building their literacy skills at home. We homeschooled them for almost ten years.

However, with our youngest one, we needed to shift. I went back to work full-time, and it has been a challenge to stay consistent and creative, despite being a certified educator. 

Between busy work and activity schedules--and simply being tired--I completely empathize with young parents who wonder how can we keep our children actively engaged with the art of listening, reading, speaking, and writing, the foundational components of literacy.

The good news is that some creative literacy activities you probably already do: cooking from recipes, putting together toys or furniture, and telling bedtime stories. But if you are looking for things to do during a staycation, long car trip,  or school break, here are a few unusual and creative ways to support literacy at home, beyond the traditional "read every night" routine:

1. Storytelling Jar
Create a “storytelling jar” filled with random objects, pictures, or words written on slips of paper. Encourage your child to pull out a few items and craft a story around them. This sparks imagination and helps children practice narrative skills in a fun, low-pressure way.

2. Book Scavenger Hunt
Turn reading into an adventure by hosting a book scavenger hunt. Hide books around the house, and give clues related to characters, themes, or plotlines to find them. You can tie this in with topics they’re learning in school or current events. This activity turns books into treasures to be discovered!

3. DIY Comic Books
Encourage your child to create their own comic book or graphic novel. Provide blank comic panels, markers, and a prompt to help them get started. This taps into their love for visual storytelling, encouraging them to blend words and art to convey a narrative. Plus, it shows that storytelling can take many forms!

4. Picture to Story Challenge
Take family photos, old magazines, or random images from the internet and challenge your child to write a short story based on the picture. Ask guiding questions like, "What do you think is happening here?" or "Who are these people, and where are they going?" This activity strengthens descriptive writing and narrative structure, while also allowing your child to connect visuals with words.

5. Letterboxing
Letterboxing is an outdoor hobby that combines treasure hunting and puzzle-solving with literacy. Participants hide small, weatherproof boxes containing a notebook and stamp, along with written clues to find the box. You can have your child write their own clues or follow others' clues, practicing writing and reading skills while exploring nature.
   - You can find letterboxing sites through [Atlas Quest](https://www.atlasquest.com).

6. Set the Scene
Building on the previous idea, consider the places you’ve been or plan to go. If you like to travel, or dream of doing so, why not create a story based upon a place you love or hope to visit one day? Gather information about famous landmarks, foods, things to do, and people who live (or lived there). Decide if your story will be action-packed, full of mystery, or contain realistic sci-fi. It could have all three if you like.

7. Literacy Postcards
Help your child develop writing and reading skills by sending real postcards to friends, family, or even fictional characters. Ask them to write short, imaginative notes—whether it’s an update on their day or a pretend letter to a superhero. You can also read aloud the responses they receive, making it a collaborative and rewarding experience.

Bonus: Experience books like "I know a Horse" by author Ernst Louis in the great outdoors. Visiting a literacy walk at your local library or park like the one at North Cobb Regional will take you there!

So now you have a few more ideas in your wheelhouse. Continue to build relationships with your children and keep them creatively engaged as they develop their communication skills. By incorporating creativity, play, and everyday activities into literacy learning, you’ll keep your child’s curious and show them that reading and writing can happen anywhere.

Let me know how it’s working out for you or if you have any more ideas that you’d like to share.

Ernst and I recently participated in a Hispanic Month Celebration in a neighboring community--and we will continue to do so throughout the month. We realize that although our stories may be underrepresented in children's literature, other communities face similar conundrums. As authors and publishers, we know the importance of diverse stories.

Books--whether they act as mirrors or windows--have the power to build bridges.  Bridges offer people, especially children, ways to connect with others, develop empathy and understanding, and ultimately to solve problems. That's what leaders do.

I recently shared a campaign on social media about ways "Readers Become Leaders". As adults, we know the power of a shifting political and cultural landscape. We need tomorrow's leaders to be equipped with the tools they need to relate to all kinds of people no matter their cultural, religious, or ideological background. Diverse books provide a framework for readers to delve into worlds that may not be readily accessible where they live.

Additionally, diverse books, give children opportunities to see themselves within the story and to understand that their experiences are important, too. They are able to bolster a sense of self that strengthens their esteem and subsequently, their voice.  When children see themselves in books, in movies, in games, and in other media, they realize they have the power to lead and solve problems, too.

If everyone in the room has the same or similar experiences, they may fail to see blind spots in plans and agendas. Having access to different experiences empowers leaders (and their teams) to develop more creative solutions to challenges we face.

The earlier children become comfortable with this reality, the more equipped they will be to function successfully in the world we actually live in.

Each story brings a unique perspective. Each story allows the audience to experience life through the eyes of another. The story can be familiar or foreign. It just needs to be told and shared.  That is why representation in children's books matters.