Have you heard of the marshmallow test? Recently, we have seen many parents trying out different versions of the marshmallow test with their children and posting videos on social media. But, what is the marshmallow test and why is it important?

The marshmallow test is a test of emotional intelligence for children between 3 and 5 years old. It was developed by psychologist Walter Mischel at Stanford University in 1972 to measure self-control, willpower, and delayed gratification skills in children. In the study, each child was offered 1 marshmallow to eat right away, or if they waited 10 minutes without eating the first marshmallow, they would get a second marshmallow as a reward. Mischel and his colleagues followed these children as they grew up and found some interesting results. The children who were able to show self-control and delay gratification were typically more successful in life; they had higher incomes, a lower divorce rate, and a higher status in society.

No matter how the test turns out, the good news is that emotional intelligence skills can be worked on and increased. It’s never too early to work on skills that will help your child achieve future success!