Delayed gratification is the ability to resist a smaller, immediate reward in order to gain a larger or more meaningful one later — in short, the capacity to wait for something better. It's a key part of self-control, and a skill that develops gradually through childhood.
The ability to delay gratification underpins all sorts of valuable things: saving money rather than spending it instantly, working toward longer-term goals, managing impulses, and persevering through difficulty. It's famously associated with the 'marshmallow test', a study in which young children were offered one treat now or two if they could wait. While the original conclusions have been debated and refined by later research, the underlying skill of self-regulation remains genuinely important for wellbeing and achievement — and, encouragingly, it can be nurtured.
Saving for a goal is one of the best ways to practise this skill — our free savings goal chart and pocket money tracker make the progress visible, and our guide to teaching children about money has more. This is general information, not professional advice.