5 Solutions to Kid’s Impatient & Entitled Attitudes
At Camp Kupugani, our overnight summer camp in beautiful small town Illinois (near Chicago and Madison), we’ve had to evolve how we engage our campers over the years. From its beginnings twelve summers ago, for sure in the last several years, we have comparatively spent more time on facilitating and developing social skills, and making kids comfortable with having to be “busy” all the time. A recent article by Deep Roots at Home speaks to this observation; check out the full article here.
Read the Summary Below:
Kids get everything they want when they want it.
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- We have evolved into an instant gratification society.
Children (and adults) have increasingly limited real-world interaction.
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- Digital interaction has taken the place of in-person connections. (Read our blog about the book iGen here.)
- Digital media has replaced outdoor time.
Many parents focus on kids’ having endless fun.
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- Kids are not allowed to be bored, thus restricting exercise of their “creative muscles.”
- Children help less with household chores.
There is too much reliance on electronic technology.
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- Technology is often used as a babysitter.
- Everyday life seems “boring” compared to children’s digital lives in videos or video games.
Kids rule their families’ worlds.
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- Children are dictating choices over parents.
- Giving children what they want all the time is not good for them.
- “Need to do” has become a thing of the past.
So, how do we help today’s children overcome these struggles to prepare them for adulthood?
Set appropriate limits; kids need limits to grow and be properly supported.
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- Set a schedule for your child.
- Include sufficient sleep time
- Include sufficient time for schoolwork
- Can allow limited time for technology
- Do “what is good for them” instead of “what they want”
- Send your kid outside!
- Set a schedule for your child.
Limit technology, and connect (or reconnect) emotionally with your children.
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- Parental emotional availability is the main nutrient for child’s brain (not technology).
- Do activities and spend time as a family.
- Write encouraging notes to your children, and pt them in their lunchbox or backpack.
Train your children to delay gratification.
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- Delayed gratification means resilience and better stress-coping mechanisms.
- Create times where they need to be “bored.”
- Increase the intervals between “I want” and “I get.”
Teach your child to do “monotonous” work early; that can be a foundation for future “workability.”
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- Have your child help with chores that are age-appropriate.
- Add/adjust tasks as your children get older.
- Help your child learn that even the most “boring” tasks can be made fun; the brain will make the connection.
- Have your child help with chores that are age-appropriate.
Teach and model social skills.
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- Teach them to take turns.
- Say “please” and “thank you.”
Article Source: https://deeprootsathome.com/