The Day I Lost My Patience Hat
What’s inside...
Talking about patience with children can be a confusing and abstract topic, but kids who are able to identify their emotions are empowered to have more control over them to feel calm and self-assured. With The Day I Lost My Patience Hat, families and educators of young children will welcome a delightful story that helps kids understand that patience is a part of everyday life. A little girl has trouble being patient, whether it’s sharing a toy, waiting for her turn on the playground slide, or waiting for the next batch of pancakes when her sometimes annoying sister swipes the last two. So, her mom gives her a “patience hat,” and it becomes her secret weapon to feeling calm. When she’s feeling like she’s losing her cool, she puts on the hat, counts to three, and her patience returns. But when she arrives one day to school without her hat, she’s convinced the day will be a disaster! After counting to three throughout the day without any mishaps, she realizes the secret weapon for patience isn’t her hat, it’s within herself.
Discussion points
How did the main character feel when they lost their Patience Hat? Can you relate to those feelings?
What did the main character do to find their Patience Hat? What would you have done in their place?
Why is being patient important? Can you think of a time when you had to be patient?
How did the story end? What did the main character learn about patience?
How can we help each other stay patient when things are difficult?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by sharing a personal story where you had to practice patience, setting a comfortable and relatable tone for the discussion.
Show genuine interest in your child's thoughts and feelings as they answer, reinforcing the importance of their viewpoint.
Connect the discussion back to everyday life, asking your child to think of instances where they could apply the lessons learned from the book.
Praise your child’s insights and responses to encourage open communication and deeper thinking.
Suggest re-reading the book together, perhaps focusing on specific sections that your child found particularly interesting or challenging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and Managing Emotions
Explanation: The story highlights how the main character navigates through feelings of frustration and anger when he misplaces his 'Patience Hat'.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize their emotions and understand that it's okay to feel upset sometimes, but it's important to find constructive ways to deal with these feelings.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, the protagonist uses critical thinking and creativity to search for his lost hat, demonstrating perseverance and problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: This lesson prepares children to face challenges in their daily lives and encourages them to think critically to solve problems instead of giving up.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Support
Explanation: As the character searches for his hat, friends come to help, showing him support. This interaction teaches the importance of empathy and helping others in distress.
Real-World Application: Children can learn from this to recognize when someone else is in need and how extending a helping hand can make a significant difference in others’ lives.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The main character feels responsible for losing his hat and takes proactive steps to find it, learning accountability for his actions.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of taking responsibility for their belongings and actions, and the positive outcomes resulting from responsible behavior.
Example Lesson: The Power of Patience
Explanation: Through the storyline, patience is reinforced as an important virtue. The protagonist realizes towards the end that patience itself, rather than the physical 'Patience Hat', helps in overcoming difficulties.
Real-World Application: Imparts the significance of patience in real-life scenarios—helping children understand that patience can often lead to better outcomes and solutions.