“If your child does not have time to do anything, do not rush him,” advises psychologist Ekaterina Patyaeva, “stop and try to keep up with him.”
“The child does his homework for a long time, eats slowly, and dresses so slowly that we involuntarily begin to urge him: “Well, hurry up! What are you digging for?“ But our attempts are unsuccessful. Try to slow down and understand why he is so leisurely. Often slowness is a sign of thoroughness. The child lives at his own pace: he needs time to collect a portfolio, but he will not forget anything. He does not have to correct what has been done hastily, because he always tries to understand first, and then to do. Calmly accept this individual feature and do not plan more things than the son or daughter can really do.
Slowness can also be associated with unwillingness to do something. The child digs, going to school, but he does not have to be driven for a walk or to the circus. “I didn’t have time” is a convenient excuse, because adults accept it more easily than an outright refusal. In this case, teach the child to express reluctance in words. Ask if he is procrastinating because he doesn’t want to do his homework or go to school? And if he agrees, don’t force him. Try for a while to relieve yourself of responsibility for his possible delay or unfinished lessons — this is his life, and he needs to learn to make decisions himself and face their consequences. And our task is to help children to distinguish their feelings and act consciously.
If the child has become slow “suddenly”, think about whether he is too overloaded? The slow reaction to requests may also be due to the fact that he does not have time to comprehend what the adult says. Give him time, voice the request in other words. If your child is not as energetic as you, try to see other virtues in him: perseverance, thoughtfulness, curiosity … And let these qualities help you come to terms with the fact that he does not have your liveliness and speed.