Abstract: Using the experiment of self-imposed delay of gratification and situational observation, the developmental characteristics of 3 to 5 years old Chinese children’s self-imposed delay of gratification and the cross-cultural differences between 3.5 to 4.5 years old Chinese and Australian children’s self-imposed delay of gratification were investigated. The results show that the 3 to 5 years old Chinese children’s self-imposed delay of gratification develops with age increasing. 3-year-old children rarely used delay strategies, 4-year-old children’s central delay strategies are the pursuant strategies, 5-year-old children’s central delay strategies are the pursuant strategies and self-distraction and problem-solving strategies, and the self-verbal-control strategies haven’t showed the significant advantage role. In addition, the results also suggest that the 3.5 to 4.5 years old Australian children’s self-imposed delay of gratification is higher than that of the Chinese children of the same age. And there are significance differences and similarities in both between Chinese and Australian children’s development of self-imposed delay of gratification on choosing the delay strategies. The different culture values affect the development of young children’s self-imposed delay of gratification through the different education.

Key words: 3 to 5 years old children, self-imposed delay of gratification, developmental characteristic, comparison between China and Australia