Cooperative board games require players to work together to win. It's a good way to build tolerance and diffuse the feeling of Parents VS. Kids. Trust us, it works. Some of our favorites are cooperative board gamesand quick challenge games like Chutes and Ladders. 

Peacable Kingdom makes GREAT cooperative board games for younger kids. See them all on Amazon here.

All the games require taking turns, following rules, and losing. Start with quick games and slowly increase the difficulty and duration with games of strategy for older kids, like Battleship. 

Observe. Don't come to the rescue too soon. Be patient and believe in your little one.

When my child tries cramming the wrong puzzle piece into one another, I want to just quickly hand him the correct pieces, but that would be doing him a disservice.

So let your child experience frustration.

Because if they never experience it, how can they learn to deal with it? Frustration tolerance is about getting through the tough things, not getting out. Breathe through it!

Hearing children when they're upset sucks, but stomps and screams are just as normal as giggles and coos (though less pleasant).

Because frustrated children crying are as normal as happy children laughing. 

And children need to know that healthy emotions (and expressions) are normal and acceptable.

Feelings aren't scary. Let them let them out!

My three-year-old wanted a bedtime snack. I opened his yogurt for him, and after a bite or two, he became interested in something else and left his food.

So I asked him, "Are you sure you're finished? You left the table and there won't be anything else offered tonight." He was sure until he went to bed telling me he was still hungry.

Too bad.

So, how do you act when you are frustrated? I know my son has heard me give up and declare, "I can't handle this!" or "I'm done!"

Those little ears and eyes are listening and watching, and dammit they are always learning, so the pressure is on! Recently when he was driving me nuts with a bedtime battle I said, "I'm feeling frustrated so I am going to take a break."

Honestly I couldn't believe it when he said the same thing during a play date with a fellow three-year-old. And then he excused himself to the laundry room and calmed down. Mind blown.

Count to 10.

Take deep breaths.

And breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth (stops the fight-or-flight response). 

And sing a line from Daniel Tiger, "When you're feeling frustrated, take a step back, and ask for help."

Whatever it takes. Just breathe.

Yes, you're tired. Yes, you just want them to finish so they can go to bed. 

But a little delay will make you life a lot better in the long run. 

Last night, before bed, Javin and I were coloring together. Whenever he wanted the crayon I was using, he would say, "Can I use that?" while trying to snatch it from my hand, mid-stroke.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about the picture I was coloring, but for the sake of frustration tolerance-building, I made him wait till I was finished using it.

But he was surprisingly cool with it and said, "Okay, I'll just color this part instead."