From Greed to Gratitude: 5 Tips to Raise Kids Who Value More Than Stuff
The 5 Things You Can Do to Raise Kids Who Feel Empowered But Not Entitled
Even with the holiday gift-giving frenzy behind us now, kids seem to have an insatiable appetite for stuff--the must-have toys, the most fashionable clothes, or the latest tech gadget. Maybe you find yourself giving in because you want your kids to have the kinds of things that you missed out on in your own childhood. Or perhaps you feel ambivalent about setting limits. Or maybe you don’t want your kids to feel disappointment. You might have wondered, “How much is enough and how much is too much?” We all want our children to be happy but constantly giving in can make it difficult to teach children …show more content…
The last thing we want, though, is to make children feel that they’re greedy or powerless to make their own choices. Instead of shaming, we can ask our children what they can do. What kinds of chores can they do to earn the new sneakers they must have? How can they save their allowance for a big purchase? Madeline Levine author and XXX, suggests that cultivating this sense of empowerment is critical--we should not do for kids what kids can do (or almost do) for themselves. If we just hand our kids everything they want, it creates the expectation that that they will have their every demand met. Of course, we all want to make our children’s lives easier and to protect them from disappointments. But when kids have to work hard, with minimal help, they get to experience working through challenges on their own. Giving your children the opportunity to contribute to the family through regular chores and hold them accountable for completing those chores. Give your children the opportunity to contribute to the family through regular chores. They will acquire skills to become independent and will learn the importance of contributing to their …show more content…
Well, a lot. If you spend much of your time shopping, your child will likely value that as well. If you express gratitude for what you have, your child will follow suit (eventually). Levine also makes the point that it’s important to kids’ well-being (careers, relationships, health, etc.) that their parents are living lives that they find fulfilling and meaningful. She says, ‘One of the most important things we do for our children is to present them with a version of adult life that is appealing and worth striving for.’Part of that is expressing gratitude explicitly and part of that is role modeling how to live a life of meaning outside of acquiring possessions. Modeling how you value relationships with friends and family, pursuing career goals or other passions, giving back to the community all show-rather than tell-our kids how
The 5 Things You Can Do to Raise Kids Who Feel Empowered But Not Entitled
Even with the holiday gift-giving frenzy behind us now, kids seem to have an insatiable appetite for stuff--the must-have toys, the most fashionable clothes, or the latest tech gadget. Maybe you find yourself giving in because you want your kids to have the kinds of things that you missed out on in your own childhood. Or perhaps you feel ambivalent about setting limits. Or maybe you don’t want your kids to feel disappointment. You might have wondered, “How much is enough and how much is too much?” We all want our children to be happy but constantly giving in can make it difficult to teach children …show more content…
The last thing we want, though, is to make children feel that they’re greedy or powerless to make their own choices. Instead of shaming, we can ask our children what they can do. What kinds of chores can they do to earn the new sneakers they must have? How can they save their allowance for a big purchase? Madeline Levine author and XXX, suggests that cultivating this sense of empowerment is critical--we should not do for kids what kids can do (or almost do) for themselves. If we just hand our kids everything they want, it creates the expectation that that they will have their every demand met. Of course, we all want to make our children’s lives easier and to protect them from disappointments. But when kids have to work hard, with minimal help, they get to experience working through challenges on their own. Giving your children the opportunity to contribute to the family through regular chores and hold them accountable for completing those chores. Give your children the opportunity to contribute to the family through regular chores. They will acquire skills to become independent and will learn the importance of contributing to their …show more content…
Well, a lot. If you spend much of your time shopping, your child will likely value that as well. If you express gratitude for what you have, your child will follow suit (eventually). Levine also makes the point that it’s important to kids’ well-being (careers, relationships, health, etc.) that their parents are living lives that they find fulfilling and meaningful. She says, ‘One of the most important things we do for our children is to present them with a version of adult life that is appealing and worth striving for.’Part of that is expressing gratitude explicitly and part of that is role modeling how to live a life of meaning outside of acquiring possessions. Modeling how you value relationships with friends and family, pursuing career goals or other passions, giving back to the community all show-rather than tell-our kids how