Does My Child Have An Entitlement Issue?

Does your child have a hard time handling disappointment?

Is your child more concerned about himself than others?

Does your child expect rewards for good behavior?

Does your child expect to be rescued from his mistakes?

Does your child blame anything but himself when things go wrong?

Does your child almost never lift a finger to help?

Does your child constantly want more and more?

Does your child act like the rules don’t apply?

Does your child have a poor work ethic?

Does your child want things because everyone else has it?

While it is unlikely that your child has entitlement issues, he or she is displaying one or two signs related to it. When children receive everything they want, we feed into their sense of entitlement. As a consequence, feelings of gratitude will disappear. If parents do everything they can to make sure their children are happy, these children will become ‘me’ focused. The generation of parents of today are excessively interested in their child’s comfort and happiness. However, in this way we will create kids that don’t know how to learn from mistakes and have a hard time making decisions. In case you answered ‘no’ to all questions, there seem to be no reasons to be worried.

Based on your answers, your child is displaying several signs related to having entitlement issues. When children receive everything they want, we feed into their sense of entitlement. Overly involved parents will monitor their kids with every move they make. They try to protect their kids from adversity and obstacles. However, in that way we block opportunities for our kids to learn from mistakes, to make decisions for their own, and to develop resilience. Even though this is all done in the name of love, too much of it can create kids who always expect to get whatever they want and whenever they want it.

Unfortunately, your child is displaying the signs typically seen among individuals who have an entitlement issue. The good news is that this entitlement can be lessened. As a parent, you should restrain your overprotective instincts and let your children do what they can by themselves. The parents of today are overly interested in their child’s comfort and happiness. Even though this is all done in the name of love, too much of it can create kids who always expect to get whatever they want and whenever they want it. Parenting can be hard, but is isn’t possible to raise grateful and hard-working children who don’t only think about themselves.