Self centered behavior, demands of instant gratification of material wants (not needs), tantrums on failing to get what they want, attention seeking and narcissistic behavior, manipulation by making you, the parents, feel guilty, etc., are some of the characteristic traits of a spoiled child. A spoiled child is the product of overindulgent parents, who assume that money can substitute for their time and attention towards their children, or sometimes you just cannot say, "No!", because you 'love your child so much'! Don't get me wrong though! I know how it can really break your heart, to refuse something to someone you love more than anything else in the whole wide world, and you also have the best intentions at heart, when you buy things for your children. But the problem arises, when the child has not been taught the value of these things, or if these things have been given to him too easily in spite of the child displaying less than satisfactory behavior lately. In such a case, the child begins to take these things for granted, and even begins to expect them for no particular reason, and you end up spoiling your child, which now puts you in a pickle, because you didn't predict/expect this. What you have on your hands is a spoiled child, and you have to deal with this in the best possible way, to avoid guilt trips, fits of anger, tantrums and the like. Here are a few tips to help you.Keep Your Temper in Check
First and most important, is to keep your temper under control. Shouting at your child is not going to get him to listen to you, and it will simply increase your stress levels. Keep your voice even, and when your child begins to increase his/her voice, firmly tell them to lower their voice. If they refuse to listen to you, do not stand and continue listening to them. Ignore their behavior, and tell them you will listen to them only when they are ready to talk reasonably.
