Christmas is over and your children are on new toy overload. If theyâre anything like my children, they have what amounts to an entire Toys R Us store in their bedrooms and thatâs not including what they already had before. Itâs difficult not to want to go overboard for your children during the holidays, and itâs even more difficult not to tell aunts and uncles and grandparents not to do the same.
While new toys and gifts are wonderful, you donât want those to amount to a spoiled child. If you suspect that the holidays might have spoiled your children a bit, try using some of this advice to help you âunâspoil them quickly.
Say No
It sounds easier said than done. Especially when youâre in the middle of the supermarket and your little ones are screaming for a candy bar after theyâve already devoured the cookie they received at the bakery. You donât want them to have another piece of candy, but you also want them to hush so you can shop without making a scene. Itâs now that you cave and give the kids the candy. Except you shouldnât; say no to them. Itâs not easy, but it will become easier with practice.
Delayed Gratification
This is something most of us have a problem with, even me. Once I have it in my mind that I want something, I go pick it up, even if it means rearranging my schedule, rushing or even driving an hour and a half one way because I canât wait 24 hours for it to arrive via overnight shipping. Delayed gratification, however, is something we have to teach our kids. We donât buy things we want before we have the funds to buy them, so why teach our children differently? Let them earn the money to buy what they want on their own â it helps teach them several valuable lessons.
Work Pays Off
We all work hard for everything we have, which is why our children should learn to do the same. Thatâs not saying you have to break any child labor laws, itâs just saying you have to teach them that hard work pays off. They should learn to keep their bedrooms organized and clean, their homework organized and anything theyâre responsible for as they get older.
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