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Description

Is a marshmallow in your hand worth two in the future?

This activity is a great way of explaining the difference between getting something now or saving it for later. It gives people the chance to choose whether to eat or save a snack, then reflect on why they made their decision.

Resources

Marshmallows or chosen snack
Have enough marshmallows - or any treats - for everyone to have two

Instructions

1. The person leading the activity should give everyone a marshmallow.

2. The person leading the activity should explain that people can either eat their marshmallow now, or wait until the end of the session. If they wait until the end of the session, they’ll get a second marshmallow.

3. Everyone should decide whether they want to eat their marshmallow now, or wait until later to get a second marshmallow.
Remind everyone that there’s no right choice to make – it’s entirely up to them. It’s interesting to think about why people make different choices.

4. The person leading the activity should ask someone why they made their choice. Anyone who agrees with that reason should move to be nearer that person.
You can ask other questions too: how does it feel to wait for something you want? How would it feel to get more later? What would people do with two marshmallows – share them with someone else, eat them quickly, or eat them slowly?

5. The person leading the activity should keep asking different people questions. Everyone should keep moving to stand near people they agree with until there are no more new opinions.

6. Everyone should carry on with the rest of the session.
It doesn’t matter what activity or game you choose to run.

7. At the end of the session, the person leading the activity should give a second marshmallow to the people who chose to wait.

8. Everyone should repeat steps four and five.
Ask people how they feel now. Are they happy with their decision, or would they change their mind if they played again?

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