Do you think children today are more spoiled than children of past times?

Question

Are they more wreckless with their toys? I remember My great grandmother telling me about the one doll she had, she left it out so her father took it away. now I look and my kids have a room FULL of toys and its a lot of work to get them to pick them up. what are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

Most kids today in what is nowadays at least somewhat politically correctly called "countries of the North" are brought up much too permissively. This type of upbringing focuses on satisfying children's wishes and cravings above all. Parents are being told by contemporary society that their child must have their needs met, not only necessary ones like food, shelter, affection etc., but money, toys, things, designer clother, so that the poor child doesn't feel like an outcast in today's money-oriented society, which would allegedly cause irrepairable psychological damage (and other such bull).

While parents who raise their children that way are meaning well (namely showing how much they love their child and wanting only the best for them), what they are actually unconsciously doing is producing narcissoid persons who feel their only worth lies in the newest clothes, fastest car, best-looking and richest partner, etc.

All of which is exactly what corporations want in order to be able to sell their products. Children are meant to become consumers first and foremost today, and very subtly that is what the establishment is encouraging in upbringing and education.

In order for children to be able to grow up into self-sufficient, loving, happy people, they need to learn respect for others (that way, they also learn self-respect) and how to obey rules. So if the child does something they shouldn't have done, parents absolutely MUST punish them as promised. Parents are first and foremost teachers. Besides, parents can teach their children to value things (or money) by making them work for it (or contribute in some meaningful way), like helping wash the dishes or clearing up the table after meals etc.

In order to be a good parent nowadays, you need to stand up against a lot of social pressure (remember, society today WANTS our children to become consumers and will try to make parents conform to that way of upbringing), and of course your child whining "why can't I have what he or she/everyone else does?" In my childhood, the answer was "because you're you and they are they and that's the end of it". A better answer might be "because those things are not important in life at all. what is important is having a loving family and spending time together" or some such.

Answer 2

Have you thought of donating some of the toys to charity? Ask your children if there are any toys that they don't play with as much. I do think children today are more spoiled than of the past. Growing up, I didn't have all the latest gadgets or toys and we weren't poor at all, just my parents wanted my sister and I to be appreciative. I see 10 year-olds yaking on cell phones and listening to ipods. Hell, I didn't get a cell until I was 18! And that was only because my mom's family plan was getting renewed. One thing I've heard of families doing is for Christmas, the family buys some toys and donates them. My church during the Christmas season gets together with this organization called Operation Christmas child. It's a great way to get children involved in charities and installs a great sense of self-satisfaction in doing something good.

Answer 3

I think it is all according to how the parents raise their children. A lot of children today are spoiled, but a lot of the children that I went to school with were spoiled also. It is all the parents fault for getting their child every thing they ask for and not punishing them when they are rude to other people. Parents do not teach their children respect any more. I think that parenting skills are not as good as they used to be. Parents get so busy with their own life they do not take time for their children. Parents buy video games and DVDs to act as a babysitter for their children. My children will not have a x box and have not asked for one. I make them go outside and play and get exercise. I do not buy them every thing they want, they pick up their stuff or I take it away. I demand respect from my children. Most parents just do not take the time with their children

Answer 4

I think that children today are more spoiled because they're allowed to be. So many of the things I see kids get away with in public today I would never have been allowed to do without serious consequences. I'm not sure if parents have more disposable income that they are willing to shower on their children or if people just don't teach their children the value of anything or of respect in general.

Answer 5

I think kids should be taught to pick up after themselves and this should start at a very young age. They should know the consequences for not picking up there things. So, to answer your question... Yes, children today are much more spoiled than children of past times.

Answer 6

I don't believe they are more spoiled I believe the parents have lost sight of bring the children up. I have 3 and if they don't pick up anything I take it and they have to earn them back by there chorse. They also loose prilages. I know too many parents that don't do **** and their kids walk all over them WRONG.They need to be thought respect and it starts at home. all these kids now a day have no respect run out at all times of night. Tell there parents off and steal, fire weapons and so on.

Answer 7

They are in deed more spoiled now and I think its mostly because CHILDREN are becoming parents now. I am only 38 and in 5 weeks I will be the grandmother of 2. Kids today are more lazy and over weight because of the video game crap. Back in my day the highlight of the day was running around outside with your friends until the street lights came on. We made up games and didnt need a socket to have fun. Give us a ball ANY ball or a piece of chaulk and the whole neighborhood had fun. Now the kids dont even want to go outside due to videogame.

Answer 8

I say yes. My 3 year old has way more than I ever had at that age and he thinks he deserves a toy every day. I think he thinks that its ok to hurt his toys because he has so many. He has video games, computers, and his own television with satellite in his room. Sometimes I wonder if I am installing the right values on him by letting him have this.

Answer 9

Yes, children are spoiled nowadays. There are way more things to buy, and more things that cater to instant gratification, like the internet and cell phones. One could say it depends on the parent. Some parents are practically owned by their kids; they get them whatever they want and try to reason with them instead of laying down the law. I'm not sure where America went wrong.

Answer 10

Each generation wants their children to have more than they had so parents (and grandparents) tend to pile it on. Also, with the majority of households requiring two incomes to survive, so of the "stuff" is to assuage guilty feelings for not being with the kids. I believe children are more spoiled today but it is a whole new world, and I think they will survive.