How to Prevent My Child From Being Spoiled
3 mins read

How to Prevent My Child From Being Spoiled

If you view your child as a little princess and treat her as such, you run the risk of producing a spoiled child. While the desire to give your child everything is natural, responding to your tot’s every whim can leave her with a warped impression of how important she is in the grand scheme of things. By taking care to avoid over-indulging your child and setting boundaries within which your child must operate, you can ensure that your child feels valuable without spoiling her.

Set Limits

Set behavioral limits. If children know that they can capture parents’ attention at any moment, they are more likely to become spoiled. Teach your children desirable behaviors such as waiting their turn, being patient and not talking while others are speaking. If your child does not display these positive behaviors, correct him or apply a consequence if his behavior deviates from these norms too frequently.

You Can and Should Say No

Use the word "no" freely. Some doting parents are hesitant to tell their children no, as they worry that this will in some way harm the child, reports CBS News. In truth, telling your child no is an important part of teaching your child boundaries. By telling your child no when necessary, you can make it clear to her that she, like everyone else in the world, must follow set guidelines and abide by rules.

Stick to Your Word

Stick to what you say. If you tell a child that he must or must not do something, do not back down, regardless of how fervently your child begs. By sticking to what you say, you show your child that there are limits that he can not get around. While it may be difficult to resist the needling that some children are capable of, the more effective you are at sticking to your guns, the more likely it is that your child will stop engaging in pestering behavior, as it will become clear to the tot that you mean what you say and no amount of arguing will lead you to change your position or give in to his request.

Set Consequences

Set AND enforce consequences. Giving your child consequences when she does something wrong not only increases the likelihood that she will take you and your authority as a parent seriously, it also gives her a glimpse at what adult life will be like. Just like when she is a child, once your tot reaches adulthood, she will be subject to rules and, if she doesn’t follow them, will receive a consequence.

Don’t Be Overprotective

Avoid overprotective parenting. As WebMD reports, over-protective parenting may lead to your child not truly understanding the concept of consequences or developing the skills necessary to make wise decisions. Instead of coddling your child and preventing her from experiencing potentially negative consequences, allow your child to deal with the result of her actions. This practice not only prevents you child from being spoiled, it also allows her to learn from her mistakes.

Teach Your Kid the Importance of Giving

Teach your child charity. Get your child involved in philanthropic efforts so that she can see the benefits of being charitable. Take him to work in a soup kitchen, have a mommy and me day of trash pickup at a local park or gather up old clothing and allow your child to help you donate these garment pieces. As your child experiences this charity work, he will see that giving has rewards and that helping others is vital to being a good citizen.

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