Home Parenting Tips How We’re Trying NOT to Raise an Entitled Child

How We’re Trying NOT to Raise an Entitled Child

by Ivy B

5 parenting tips for battling a child’s entitlement mentality.

I’m sure we’ve all heard how terrible the world is these days.  So much is being blamed on how entitled people are becoming.

I see it all the time.

The driver who refuses to follow traffic laws because she needs to get across the road now.  It didn’t matter she almost caused an accident with the oncoming car who had the right of way.

The moms who cut in car line at school pick up.  It doesn’t matter to them you’ve been waiting 30 minutes or more, nor does she care that those (now) behind her will have to wait 5 extra minutes because her child hasn’t been called to the line for pickup.

The kids who talk during meet the teacher at orientation.  They (and their parents) don’t mind that you’re missing vital details about how the class and your child’s teacher operate.  And, it certainly doesn’t matter to them if you have to waste the teacher’s time having her repeat herself.

The people who can’t be bothered to wait their turns to use the restrooms, visit an attraction, buy something.

Ahh … entitlement 

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: the condition of having a right to have, do, or get something
: the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something (such as special privileges)

“Entitlement.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2013. .

In this house, we don’t believe in raising children with this sense of entitlement!  So, I’m sharing a few things we do (or hope to do) to combat the entitlement mentality in our own children.

If you’re looking for ways to do this and not experience some crying, our approach may not be a fit for you.

5 Ways to Combat a Child’s Entitlement Mentality

1. Teach Manners

Please and thank you go a long way in our homes and beyond.

Our children have to ask politely for things they want and show some kind of gratitude if they receive it.

We began teaching each of our children these magic words as toddlers.  This makes conversation pleasant and has garnered much praise for how polite our children are (at least outside the home).

2. Have Rules

improve behavior consequence reward jars

Teaching boundaries helps children to learn what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.  Children need to know what they are and are not allowed to do.  Being able to follow rules and respect authority will help them when they enter school and again in the workforce.

We back up good and bad behavior, or following or breaking rules, with our consequence and reward jar system.

3. Teach Responsibility

Things in life aren’t given to us.  We earn them.

Well, that’s what we believe, anyway!

my 6 year old cleaning and dusting the coffee table as a consequence chore

We give our children a set of chores.  There are toddler chores for the little one and chores for our 7 year old.  Each of them have chores they’re expected to do without pay because they’re a personal responsibility.  Other chores, we’ve deemed a family responsibility and those we allow the kids to earn an allowance for because it will take the burden off someone else in the family … but someone has to do it.

Offering an allowance allows us to teach our children that, when they can’t get something through “magic words”, they need to be willing to work toward earning the coveted item.

4. Follow-Through

I love to be my kid’s friend as much as any parent.  But, sometimes I have to take off the friend hat and get serious.  This means, at times, I have to stand my ground about expectations and follow-through with threatened consequences when the situation calls for it.

When we threaten something and don’t follow through, we’re teaching our children they can do what they want.  And, that doesn’t really help combat the entitlement mentality they’re prone to.

5. Lead By Example

Sometimes I struggle with this myself and it’s okay.  When I recognize my own entitled behaviors, I usually point them out and redirect my thoughts.  I’ve been known to hash out all the reasons I believe I do or do not deserve something.

We make sure to point out things like … “daddy’s getting [insert random item] because he’s worked hard to earn it.”  We remind the kids how fortunate they are for receiving things because daddy’s worked hard to achieve a lifestyle that doesn’t require much budgeting.  But, that doesn’t mean we don’t expect to work for things or that our children don’t have to either.

Sometimes we discuss why we have to get rid of one thing in order to gain another.

Trying to be mindful of our own tendencies helps us to teach our children through our own example.

image of upset child not getting her way. Not raising entitled children | sahmplus.com

Sure, I want to be friends with my children.  And, of course I’ve love to give them everything in the world.  I choose not to teach them to be entitled at the expense of the rest of the world.

At some point, I won’t be there to give them everything.  So, I need them to rely on their upbringing to help them navigate through life as responsible and upstanding citizens who earn everything they want.

Do I know if we’re doing it right?

Nope.

I’m just hoping that we are and that all this hard work pays off.   It certainly isn’t always easy, but the fact remains that they’re learning to be more polite and people are noticing it.

Also, I love [easyazon_link identifier=”0375847588″ locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”ivsvabasaan0a-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”n”]this book[/easyazon_link] for teaching little kids about manners and good behavior!

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Tell me: what things do you do to ward off your child’s natural entitlement mentality?

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Trying not to raise entitled kids? 5 tips for battling a child's natural entitlement mentality.  | sahmplus.com

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5 comments

Abby August 31, 2018 - 3:04 am

I am really glad you have touched upon a topic that is so important, and yet, don’t get the attention it deserves. All the points you have covered sound logical and should be practiced by every parent.

Assignment Help November 26, 2018 - 6:35 am

Great work did by you. Informative and problem-solving content that users can easily digest can work for all types of blogs. When a user finds something informative on a blog, he/she is more likely to come back from your side.
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Mike December 20, 2018 - 4:43 am

Thanks for sharing such wonderful information. You explain all the information in a very good way, after reading this article. I can say. this is a well-researched and problem-solving article.

Leslie January 11, 2019 - 9:14 pm

Quick question. I basically raised my boys exactly like you suggest. They are now adults. However I’m now married to a man with a pre-teen who has not had any rules, responsibility, respect taught etc. at OUR house she has been told she has to do certain things. But the whole allowance thing. She will only ask to do extra when she wants money. So sometimes she will, sometimes she won’t. Sometimes she asks “how much do I get for that?” So your kids… required to do the allowance chores? Or just as they want? Cause I have a problem with the just as they want. If she doesn’t need money, she won’t help.

Ivy B January 12, 2019 - 4:03 pm

This is a really difficult question. My daughter is now 7 and with age, her responsibilities (chores) increase. But, with age is coming the realization that she can exercise her rights to not do her chores. I recently told my daughter that if I had to clean the bathroom because she didn’t want to do it, I would take what I would have paid her out of her piggy bank.

Since my kids are still so young, I think it’s helpful that we pay an allowance for chores. That said, because of their ages, I haven’t dealt with the teenage years.

Still, if I think about how I’d handle it in the future, this is what I’m thinking:

Maybe as a pre-teen, paying for the daily or weekly tasks that are expected of adults isn’t appropriate? Maybe it should just be a requirement. You know … things that they’d have to do if they were living on their own. Perhaps she needs a lesson in being a contributing member of the family. You take care of her basic needs so she can pitch in around the house, and you both can explain that’s part of being an adult. But, that’s not to say that larger projects or tasks around the house couldn’t be paid for (washing the cars, raking leaves, or mowing the lawn, etc).

Depending on her age and maturity, continue to require regular chores (unpaid), but help her explore ways to earn a regular income (no matter how small). It may be useful to have her pitch services to trusted neighbors. Does someone need a regular babysitter once a week? Allowing her to get involved in a weekly “job” outside of the home may help her to understand jobs are about commitment of time to earn steady income, instead of only pitching in when you’re broke. And, it may help that someone outside of the family unit relies on her.

Just my initial thoughts.

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