This is the test where you say to a four year old "would you like one marshmallow now? or two in 20 minutes?". This obviously tests ability to delay gratification and achievement and can be an indication of how well a child will apply him/herself to studying and saving and so on later in life.
WELL anyway, I asked my 7 yr old and no surprise she said, 2 in 2 minutes, but can I have the whole bag in an hour?! I said ok shuddup now we try this on the wild thing...
I explained it to him carefully, checking he understood, he nodded to confirm that he understood, and then said "one now".
What!? ran through it all again with him,,,, asked him the question again, and he still maintained that he'd prefer one NOW.
Feel a bit depressed about htat.. He's only 3 and a half mind you, so I'll repeat it in 6 months. (Only because it's interesting, I'm not hothousing him, far from it!).
Can you all go and do this test on your four year olds please and tell me what happens!
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Parenting
The Stanford Marshmallow test for a four year old
22 replies
MaggieBee · 30/05/2009 16:51
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