What To Do If Your Child Seems Too Spoiled
Don't let your kids rule the family. Here's how to discipline them
Few parents deliberately set out to spoil their children. It usually creeps up without them noticing, until one day, a good friend or close relative is courageous enough to point it out. Comments like “You let them go far too much for their own good” or – even worse – “Your child is a spoilt brat and it’s time you taught them how to behave properly” are bound to make you think again. Read on for five suggestions to help you “unspoil” your kid.
Make sure there are occasions when they do not get their own way. You aren’t being cruel when you do this, you’re helping prepare them for the outside world.
They say “I want” very easily and may start to ask just for the sake of it. Every time they do this, show them that they already have lots of similar items. That helps them focus on what they have, not on what they don't.
A spoilt toddler only sees the world from their perspective, so don’t hesitate to point out how awful their friend felt when they snatched the toy from their hand.
Although you may find it easier to give in to your child all the time rather than to say “no” to them, they need to have a clear set of rules to follow at home.
It’s an easy way for parents to say "yes" to their toddler because it avoids having to set limits, but that doesn’t mean you love them more.
A version of this article first appeared in Young Parents.