Unspoil Your Child
Parents tend to spoil their children, and they both know it. Fortunately, spoiling can be undone-quickly.
Parents tend to spoil their children, and they both know it. Fortunately, spoiling can be undone—quickly. Here are some tips for unspoiling your child:- Commit to unspoiling. Be steadfast. Halfhearted attempts will fail. Give unspoiling the highest priority.
- Remember who’s boss. Children act as if they want to captain the family, but they really don’t. They want their parents to be in charge. Accept your role as your family’s benevolent leader.
- Toughen up. Some parents don’t like being the meanie who says “no,” but children need someone to do that. Your child needs you to be a parent more than a friend.
- Say what you mean. Screaming, threatening and counting to three reveal a lack of power. Set your limits and expectations clearly, then stick to them. Follow through on consequences.
- Don’t bargain. Parents unintentionally train their children to be negotiators who nag, demand and deal until getting what they want. Don’t offer endless choices and don’t reward every ounce of cooperation. Some things in a family should be nonnegotiable.
- Give less. It’s a law of human nature: People who get more tend to appreciate less. For a few days, add up all the treats, toys, books, clothes and other gifts that you buy for your child. Add in, too, the chauffeuring and activities. Then cut back on your giving and doing.
first appeared: 9/14/2008
Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos
Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.Related Stories
If you enjoyed reading this story, Unspoil Your Child, then you might enjoy these other stories.Discuss this Article
There are no current discussions for this article. Why not be the first?
Below are the most recent American Profile articles:
Below are the most recent, highest rated American Profile articles:
Below are the most recent, highest rated American Profile recipes:
Below are the most recent articles from our Relish sister site. Click on the "Spry" tab above to see
the most recent articles from our other sister site.
Below are the most recent articles from our Spry sister site. Click on the "Relish" tab above to see
the most recent articles from our other sister site.





