Waiting in line at a shop, taking turns on a swing, or pausing while someone else finishes speaking are small moments that come up constantly in daily life -- and they can be genuinely difficult for a learner who finds unstructured waiting hard to tolerate.
Why Waiting Can Be Harder Than It Looks
Waiting often involves managing uncertainty about how long something will take and resisting the urge to act immediately, both of which can be more demanding for some autistic learners than for their peers.
Breaking the Skill Into Smaller Steps
Rather than expecting waiting to come naturally, it helps to practise it in short, predictable steps first -- for example, waiting for a count of five before a turn, gradually building up as tolerance grows.
Visual and Timer Supports
Dr. Murli Singh notes that visual timers, countdown cards or simple 'first this, then that' sequences can make an abstract wait feel more concrete and manageable for many learners.
Practising in Real Situations
Skills practised at GALS are most useful when they carry over into everyday places like shops, clinics or playgrounds -- our team can share simple ways families can reinforce the same approach outside the classroom. Call 9990555423 or 8796958310, or message us on WhatsApp, to learn more about our life-skills curriculum.