Spoiling Children

Spoiling children in America has become one of the most common ways to start a child’s life off wrong. “Over indulgence is one of the most insidious forms of child abuse.” Spoiling your child is a common way of “abuse” and can lead them to a life of personal and social problems.  

Often time’s parents who spoil their children know that they are doing this yet they do nothing to stop it. “Parents tend to know that their children are spoiled but don’t do anything to prevent it.” The definition of a spoiled child varies but mainly it falls along these guidelines: getting everything they desire, over-indulged, terrible bratty behavior or they tend to push adults over the limit. “4 signs your child is spoiled: whines not cries, has frequent temper tantrums, never hears the word “no”, your child wins arguments.” At least 65% of American young adults and children are spoiled. “Spoiled children know exactly what they’re doing, they’re very manipulative.” Often parents feel guilt about something and that emotion can start this process of over-indulging their child. Children of divorce tend to be more spoiled because the two parents feel guilty or bad for their child for putting them through that situation. “Parents should demand the same positive behavior from the children they did prior to the divorce.” Another leading factor of this problem is lack of discipline. “It’s speculated that because both mothers and fathers are more commonly in the full-time workforce than ever before, they feel guilty about hiring babysitters or nannies for their children and thus won’t discipline them.” It’s up to the parents to stop spoiling their children and start becoming more like parents, rather than friends.

            Spoiling a child rarely has positive outcomes, most of the time the effects are negative. Spoiled children end to be materialistic, selfish, socially troubled and they don’t know the meaning of determination and responsibility. These children will have a rude awakening when they go into the real world and realize that not everyone will just hand them what they want. The parents often get treated badly yet don’t stop this, so the children grow to not respect people later on in life. Spoiled children don’t understand the true meaning of happiness or the meaning of appreciation the things they are given. They are never satisfied and always want more. “Refusing to hold your child accountable when he does something wrong sends the message that he never makes a mistake.” A lot of parents do this and it’s just another form of over-indulgence. Parents give the idea, by performing thus, that their child can never do anything wrong. This attitude can be crippling when they go out into real life situations.

            All parents should stop spoiling their children immediately.  “Your choice to not spoil your children will bless you with more opportunities to show them understanding and compassion and to be fully present with them as they journey toward adulthood.” Parents should practice ‘Tough Love’ on their children; it benefits both sides of this argument. Parents should teach their children good moral and ethical values early on in life. “Let them work and earn what they want when the time comes for them to go to college and enter the workforce, you will have the confidence that you have raised a child that can both enter and contribute to society confidently.” “How to stop spoiling your children: be the parent, enforce bedtime, start a chores list, give an allowance, have family meetings, talk to your kids, have family dinner, reduce hired help.”

   In conclusion, spoiling your children doesn’t positively affect either side of this argument, so why not just stop? Stop setting your child up for a future life of hardship. Stop treating them as if they are higher above the rest of the world, when in fact they are average. Stop sending them the wrong messages, and start sending them the right ones.

·         For assistance with learning more about spoiled children, how to tell if your child is spoiled, effects, or how to prevent this in your child visit these sites:

  http://www.oprah.com/relationships/Spoiled-Children#ixzz2Q5bYBzZ7

  http://www.totsites.com/help/baby/4-signs-your-toddler-is-spoiled.php

 http://www.professorshouse.com/Family/Children/Articles/Why-Parents-Should-Not-Spoil-Children/

  http://voices.yahoo.com/the-definition-spoiled-child-10413377.html

  http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/94

  http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/are-your-children-spoiled

  http://www.oprah.com/relationships/Spoiled-Children

  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/learned-self-reliance-the-negative-effects-of-spoiling-children.html

  http://www.modernmom.com/article/can-spoiling-a-child-cause-bad-behavior

  http://www.livestrong.com/article/514405-long-term-effects-of-spoiling-children/

  http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2006/3596.html

By: Chelsea Hamner