1. Marshmallow Experiment
The
Marshmallow Experiment
What is self-control? How can self-control benefit us?
Read the article about the MARSHMALLOW TEST. You will STOP and JOT. Be ready to share your responses.

2. Could you take the Marshmallow test?
Famous experiment done with four year olds. To see how good they were at self-restraint, impulse control & self-control. 2 marshmallow covered eyes, head in arms, played with arms & feet, talked to selves, tried to sleep. Really hard for four year old. Sometimes adult gone for minutes.

3. How did the two groups do in school?
Lower test scores
Can make plans
Higher test scores
Able to concentrate
Success at this task was twice as powerful a predictor as to how well these children would do at school as tests of brain power. What does this mean? Well,
Easily distracted
Don’t follow things through
Follow things throught

4. What qualities did the two groups of children show?
Discipline
Wants it now
Long term
Can’t wait
What do these words mean? Impulsive, discipline, self-control
Short term
Impulsive
Self control

5. What is it about self-control that gives you such an advantage?
Why?
What is it about self-control that gives you such an advantage?
If you can be patient & wait for something, you’ll often get something better at the end. If you spend your pocket money every week, what can you buy? What if you wait for three months? For a year? What if you want to make friends – does it work better if you demand to play your game as soon as you’ve met or wait a bit to play their games first? Can you learn how to be a brilliant artist in one lesson? What do you need to do first? You need to work at it before you succeed – you’ll do dumb stuff sometimes, but if you persevere & have patience, you’ll get what you want & become a good artist.

6. Which are you?
A “eat it now” or “wait for two” person?

7. Can you learn self-control?
So does this mean that if you’re a one marshmallow person, you’re doomed to failure and unhappiness? Not at all. Self-control is a skill that anyone can learn and be taught. You can start practicing now. You might want to do something now, but might it be better for you in the long run to wait a bit & get it later… and better?

8. If you give something 10,000 hours you can achieve excellence.
What does this mean to you?
What are you willing to do for 10,000 hours to achieve greatness?
Could you have that kind of self-control?

9. Do you want a marshmallow now…
or two later?

10. Marshmallows: TED Talk
More about
Marshmallows: TED Talk