How to Avoid Raising an Entitled Child By Austria Cohn Photo by Kleinpeter Photography
We’ve all been there, walking down the aisle at t he local grocery store, when our oh-so-happy, smiling toddler asks for a lollipop, and we tell them no. When our toddler’s face goes red, and they begin yelling at the top of their lungs in the candy aisle, we start feeling frustrated, embarrassed, or annoyed because this is not the first and possibly not the last time. It definitely feels easier to give them the sucker and move on, but the long-term effect might result in an entitled child. When our babies go to school or spend the night at a friend’s house for a sleepover, we want them to be kind, respectful, and listen. Here are ways to prevent entitled behavior and how to handle the lollipop situation in a way that won’t lead to entitlement.
“Much of the trend toward entitlement stems from a parent’s desire to create a perfect environment for their child,” Dr. Braden says. “Unfortunately, this promotes an unrealistic view of life in which children are not required to solve a problem because the parent ‘fixes’ everything.” 1. Saying No and Setting Boundaries Telling your child “no,” especially when they’re having a meltdown, is key to avoiding entitled children. After a child has settled down after a tantrum, talk with them about their behavior and help them understand why screaming in the candy aisle is not allowed. “Parents cannot be a child’s friend but need to parent them by directing them to be more self-
What is Entitlement? “The idea that no one should lose or fail or be given a consequence has set up an unrealistic view of what navigating life is all about,” says Dr. Marcia Braden, a licensed psychologist. “Unfortunately, these children have trouble taking responsibility for their actions and tend to blame others for their mistakes and failures because they have been conditioned to believe they are entitled to a perfect life with positive outcomes.” An example of entitled behavior in older children is after opening all their Christmas presents, they complain about not getting a new iPhone or game console. The reasoning behind the complaints can be anything, but the most common is, “Everyone else in my class has one, so why can’t I?”
20 JUNE 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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