It’s very easy to raise a child who feels that everyone around him owes him something. Well, raising an entitled child is getting more and more common in our generation. We work hard to bring in the bread and the excess income for a rainy day – and we end up showering our child with the wrong things to try and make up for the guilt of not spending time with them. But it’s never too late to recognize or bring an entitled child back on track.
Here are some signs of entitled kids:
Kids who feel entitled usually have too much and keep wanting more. The latest toys, the latest gadgets, the newest books are all in their room at their beck and call. But they usually tire of them quickly and want something else. So, if your child has too much, take a relook and get rid of the excess. Before getting them newer stuff, make sure you speak to them. Tell them that not all kids have this privilege. Having just enough, helps kids have aspiration goals to acquire something.
Kids with a sense of entitlement don’t want to be wrong or fail at things. If you sense that your child is getting frustrated over small losses or disappointments, speak to them. It is important to make them understand that failure is only a way to learn. It only increases their knowledge and experience. Knowing what ‘not to do’ can create immense opportunities.
Lack of responsibility in kids, makes them feel entitled. When kids don’t have sufficient tasks in a day that makes them feel important or successful, they end up demanding or manipulating parents. A child who doesn’t put his toys away properly, or put away his books, inadvertently believes that he can get a new one, in case something is missing or lost. As a parent, it is important that we don’t replace missing or lost items without a consequence. ‘If you leave something behind in school, you are not going to get another till the next school year or till you look for it in the lost property and bring it back.’
Entitled children don’t care about other people’s things or public property. If your child is on the swing in the park and refuses to give it up for another child, it’s important to talk to him about how the swing does not belong to him alone. If he grabs another child’s toy to have a go, and doesn’t return it, tell him that he is wrong. Explain to him that if he borrows books from the library or toys from others, he should be responsible enough to return it in the same condition. Respecting others’ things while keeping himself in check about his own, is crucial as it teaches him to be a part of society.
As parents we have to condition kids to face disappointments, and confidently try for success. And if that requires us to discipline them at a young age, it is what it is. A child who does not feel entitled will go a long way in managing failure, and his emotions throughout his life.