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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>How To Humble Spoiled Kids?
SunshineMama 10:20 AM 03-31-2012
I just realized my kids are spoiled 
Dh and I didn't have a lot growing up so we always made sure our kids have the best of everything. Today at the grocery store my dd just kept asking for more and more and more. My kids aren't brats but they are spoiled. They don't appreciate what they have. Any ideas for raising appreciative kids?
Dh and I didn't have a lot growing up so we always made sure our kids have the best of everything. Today at the grocery store my dd just kept asking for more and more and more. My kids aren't brats but they are spoiled. They don't appreciate what they have. Any ideas for raising appreciative kids?
EntropyControlSpecialist 10:28 AM 03-31-2012
How old are your children?
Live and Learn 10:52 AM 03-31-2012
I don't know how old your kids are but the rule with my kids concerning asking for me to buy stuff at the store is if they ask for it then they 
automatically don't get it.
It has been my experience that kids want EVERYTHING when they are shopping and then only play with it for a few minutes at home.
I rarely bought treats and extras for my kids when they were with me. If they were extremely we'll behaved when running errands I might offer them a treat after we were done. When we were in the car or back home.
Good for you for recognizing the problem and trying to correct your behavior. Good luck.
automatically don't get it.It has been my experience that kids want EVERYTHING when they are shopping and then only play with it for a few minutes at home.
I rarely bought treats and extras for my kids when they were with me. If they were extremely we'll behaved when running errands I might offer them a treat after we were done. When we were in the car or back home.
Good for you for recognizing the problem and trying to correct your behavior. Good luck.
cheerfuldom 02:18 PM 03-31-2012
I have the same rule....once they start asking for everything everywhere, nobody gets anything for a long time. We clean out toys and stuff on a regular basis and we dont buy expensive items for them, we shop secondhand and thrift stores, the older two (4 and 2) have small amounts of money sometimes (say $2 when we go yard sales) and once its gone, its gone. That way they have the visual experience of choosing, spending, and then living with the choice.
Michael 02:53 PM 03-31-2012
Bring them for a day on skid row.
MizzCheryl 03:57 PM 03-31-2012
My kids are 13 and 16. They get $7.00 a week and they buy what they want with that. Including trac phone minutes. They have to save their money for anything extra they want. They buy a lot of their clothes at the Goodwill and then go home and make alterations to them to make them more "hip".
I buy them some sheo and a few things that a more expensive now and then. Man you would think that it was Christmas when I do buy them something.
We stopped at thrift sale where it was fill a lage paper grocery bap for $3.00 Last week. They came out with 2 bags stuffed to the rim and were the happiest camper you ever did see. When we started the allowance they found out fast the money didn't go far.
I buy them some sheo and a few things that a more expensive now and then. Man you would think that it was Christmas when I do buy them something.
We stopped at thrift sale where it was fill a lage paper grocery bap for $3.00 Last week. They came out with 2 bags stuffed to the rim and were the happiest camper you ever did see. When we started the allowance they found out fast the money didn't go far.
Country Kids 04:00 PM 03-31-2012
Originally Posted by Michael:
Bring them for a day on skid row.
Some friends of ours did this and it still didn't work. They went to a different country even with very poor children and while their children felt bad, they knew they were still returning home to their comfy home, beds, clothes, etc. Bring them for a day on skid row.
Its kinds like when parents say "there are starving kids in other countries" our kids feel bad but it doesn't sink in because they know its a pretty rare chance it will happen to them.
kayla 07:29 AM 04-02-2012
Originally Posted by Michael:
Bring them for a day on skid row.
good idea!!! really makes you appreciate what ya have!!Bring them for a day on skid row.
SunshineMama 03:58 AM 04-02-2012
Originally Posted by LCLC:
How old are your children?
17 months and almost-4.How old are your children?
The 17 month old isn't too spoiled (with "things" anyway, I probably hold her a lot but I dont ship her off to anyone else to deal with that so I am not too worried yet). It is mostly my oldest.
Blackcat31 07:21 AM 04-02-2012
My kids were always required to save half of whatever money they came into. Whether from a birthday card from grandparents or a dollar found on the sidewalk...half goes straight into savings. My DH and I also made sure our kids knew that you get gifts on your birthday and at Christmas time only. Anything else they wanted was something they had to save and buy themselves (and not from the money in their savings accts).
DH and I supplied everything school related and aslo clothing (within reason). One pair of tennis shoes per year, one pair of boots one jacket, etc etc....everything else was on them.
When my kids got old enough to have a job, they were required to do so if they wanted to drive and have a car. DH and I contributed $500 to their first car and paid insurance on them. Gas and anything else was also on them. They also were not allowed cell phones until they drove and that was probably only for my benefit not so much theirs. If they got a ticket, they paid it, had consequences and had to pay any additional insurance costs related to the ticket.
I refused to buy Gameboys and exspensive electronics....if they wanted them, they saved and bought them on their own. Paying for something on their own helped them understand the value of a dollar as well as to take good care of the items they purcahsed. It meant more to them because they had to work to pay for it and knew exactly how long it took to earn something.
Today, my kids are 20 and 23. My 20 yr old has worked at the same job since he was 15 yrs old. He works full time and goes to college, my 23 yr old works 2 jobs and goes to college. She has even retained her job from high school so when she comes home from college for a holiday or long weekend will pick up shifts at her old job for extra cash. My kids both have newer cars and nice things but ALL were purchased by them and taken careof very well because they paid for them on their own.
Even if I had the money to spoil my kids rotten, I wouldn't because that does them no good. Did I want to give them everything I never had as a kid? Not really..... because I was also taught the value of a dollar and hard work.... those are the things I always knew I wanted for my kids. I coul dbe a millionaire and still wouldn't give them everything. I think that is a lot like giving them candy for breakfast; something they might want but not need.
In my book, there is a HUGE difference between want and need. Teach that to your kids and they should be alright.
DH and I supplied everything school related and aslo clothing (within reason). One pair of tennis shoes per year, one pair of boots one jacket, etc etc....everything else was on them.
When my kids got old enough to have a job, they were required to do so if they wanted to drive and have a car. DH and I contributed $500 to their first car and paid insurance on them. Gas and anything else was also on them. They also were not allowed cell phones until they drove and that was probably only for my benefit not so much theirs. If they got a ticket, they paid it, had consequences and had to pay any additional insurance costs related to the ticket.
I refused to buy Gameboys and exspensive electronics....if they wanted them, they saved and bought them on their own. Paying for something on their own helped them understand the value of a dollar as well as to take good care of the items they purcahsed. It meant more to them because they had to work to pay for it and knew exactly how long it took to earn something.
Today, my kids are 20 and 23. My 20 yr old has worked at the same job since he was 15 yrs old. He works full time and goes to college, my 23 yr old works 2 jobs and goes to college. She has even retained her job from high school so when she comes home from college for a holiday or long weekend will pick up shifts at her old job for extra cash. My kids both have newer cars and nice things but ALL were purchased by them and taken careof very well because they paid for them on their own.
Even if I had the money to spoil my kids rotten, I wouldn't because that does them no good. Did I want to give them everything I never had as a kid? Not really..... because I was also taught the value of a dollar and hard work.... those are the things I always knew I wanted for my kids. I coul dbe a millionaire and still wouldn't give them everything. I think that is a lot like giving them candy for breakfast; something they might want but not need.
In my book, there is a HUGE difference between want and need. Teach that to your kids and they should be alright.
My3cents 10:12 AM 04-02-2012
Originally Posted by SunshineMama:
17 months and almost-4.
The 17 month old isn't too spoiled (with "things" anyway, I probably hold her a lot but I dont ship her off to anyone else to deal with that so I am not too worried yet). It is mostly my oldest.
hold your baby all you want. He or She will grow up and be to big for you to hold sooner then you think!!!17 months and almost-4.
The 17 month old isn't too spoiled (with "things" anyway, I probably hold her a lot but I dont ship her off to anyone else to deal with that so I am not too worried yet). It is mostly my oldest.
I really like ......if you ask for anything you get nothing. My teen seems to think the world is revolved around her at this moment in time. She thinks nothing of continuing to ask for everything when we are out and about. To the point of trying to surprise her gets ruined. I never asked over and over and over again growing up for things when out and about with my parents. I knew they struggled and it was just not right to do that. Kids today are so different. They feel entitled to everything because they are a kid. I am guilty of wanting to do and give all to my children. I work hard so I can. I don't want to create a monster-