While waiting in a checkout line or for a sibling's turn, my child cries or wanders off. How can I explain wait times?

"Wait" alone can make it hard to know when it will end or what to do. Show the endpoint with cues like "after this person" or "when we count to 10," and start with situations where the wait is short. Giving them a role during the wait, like holding an item or playing a hand game, also helps. Rather than how long they waited, specifically acknowledge that they came back or told you how they felt. When out and about, put safety first; on tough days, it's perfectly fine to choose to step out of the line.