Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

This is interesting! I'm going to try it tonight when I get home.

A researcher in the 1960’s by the name of Walter Mischel, then at Stanford University and now at Columbia, studied self-control in young children. Working individually with four-year-olds in a laboratory setting, he put one marshmallow in front of each child. He told the child she could eat that one marshmallow, but if she wanted two marshmallows, she would have to wait longer. Those who chose to wait for two had to wait up until 15 minutes. Only 30% of children were able to exercise the self-control to wait for two marshmallows.

Mischel followed these children over time and found that those who waited for two marshmallows (demonstrated impulse control), had higher SAT scores when they were in high school and were more goal-oriented in academics and other pursuits, got along better with others and were more effective problem solvers. Apparently being able to delay gratification to achieve a greater goal is an important life skill.

It turns out there are ways to teach delayed gratification to children. For example:

Give children ideas for things to do while they are waiting (hum a favorite song, tell a favorite story, etc.). You can help children learn distractions to keep from focusing only on eating the marshmallow or another activity they are waiting for.


Use natural waiting times (riding in the car, waiting at the doctor’s office, etc.) to reinforce this life skill. Talk about how long you have to wait. “When the little hand on my watch gets to the 6, it will be time for us to go in.” Or, “I see you are looking at your book. That is a good thing to do while you are waiting.”


Validate that it is hard to wait. “I know it is hard to wait, but you are doing a good job. I sometimes find it is hard to wait too.” Acknowledging your child’s feelings is a powerful way to strengthen a behavior. At the same time, don’t expect children to wait just for the sake of waiting. There will be plenty of natural opportunities to wait without creating opportunities.


Help children develop their imagination during waiting times. “While you are waiting, can you think of a time you were really happy?” Or “If you could have any animal in the world for a pet, which would you choose? What do you think it would be like to have that kind of pet?”


If you try this with your child, don’t worry that their fate is sealed if they immediately eat the marshmallow! You can help build this important life skill of self-control.

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

Interesting! DS would have did well with this study--he hates marshmallows. He'd wait all day before even eating the first one

Chocolate though--forget it. That would show a lack of impulse control for sure.

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

very interesting. thanks for sharing.

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

Posted by cjik

Interesting! DS would have did well with this study--he hates marshmallows. He'd wait all day before even eating the first one

Chocolate though--forget it. That would show a lack of impulse control for sure.

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

have you seen the youtube video of this test that was circulating for a while, its really cute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMkn4J_l9uU

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

great article, thanks!

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

very interesting..im def going to try this...

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

Very interesting!

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

no WAY!

Really?!

I actually did this to AJ on our trip to Hawaii. Marshmallows are her favorite and she knew I had them and she wanted them. I told her she'd have to wait until we were up in the air.

"Wait a minute" and she would repeat it to me "in a minute" and give me the hand sign like stop.

So she'd wait until I actually forgot! Then she'd ask "marshmallow now" ?

AJ will wait for just about anything as long as knows you'll come through and she trusts you to do as you say you will do.

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

Happiest Toddler on the Block, Dr. Karp actually shows you how to increase their patience. I've started by counting. If he sees something he wants, I say "wait 5, 1,2,3,4,5, here you go"

I didn't know it had such great benefits, I thought it would just help us out with DSs tantrums.

Thanks for sharing.

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

That video is adorable!!

My DD could totally pass this test (disregard that she doesn't even like marshmallows ) but I really picture her being able to wait.

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

I'm not sure how my DD would do on this- but I have read about this study before. I seem to recall socioeconomics being a factor, but I know my DD is not patient and it's something we work on. The other day in the car she said to me, "Look at me mommy, I'm being so patient!"

Re: Building Self-Control - the Marshmallow Study

I'll have to try this...though I can hear the response....

"No mommy, I'll just eat this one then you can give me another one. That's all!"