A parent wants their child to have everything because they love them. But showing your love without spoiling your child rotten is difficult at best. There is a fine line and the key is learning where that line is.
1. Always set limits. Children need and want limits. It makes it easier for them to understand a situation. For example, say your child wants a biscuit. You say, “Yes, you can have a biscuit.” In your child’s mind, she may interpret that as ‘maybe I can have more than one biscuit’. Set the limit by saying, “Yes, you can have one biscuit only.”
2. Once you set a limit, make sure you stick to it. Giving in will make your child start to question everything you say. “Does mum really mean it when she says it’s time for bed?” You definitely don’t want this pattern to start.
3. Make a requirement for certain treats or privileges that a chore must be accomplished before the child gets it. Being strict on chores teaches your child responsibility and that they cannot get everything they want. Sometimes, you have to work for what you want.
Don’t allow your child’s tears to make you change your mind. Once you have set a limit or declared a condition, you are doing your child a disservice if you change your mind. Limits and conditions such as these help to teach a child to accept disappointment. This acceptance leads to good coping skills later in life.
