Are the children of today spoilt?
I have always loved the elderly generation especially when they say that kids today have so much more than they ever had.
Well of course they have! I mean comparatively speaking that was like living in the dark ages! A radio was the only luxury in a home.
What I wonder is are the children of today growing up in a society of must haves?
The chances are they probally are, but what is more interesting to me is why.
When I was growing up there simply wasn’t enough money for extras and luxuries. My mum always made sure I had birthday presents and I always got one big present for Christmas. Looking back now at my mum being a single parent I realise how difficult it must have been to buy what she did buy on one wage.
Fast forward to today and we live in a designer world which has a very expensive price tag so where do we draw the line or are we under pressure that our children keep up with their friends?
I have five children and the three oldest I wouldn’t consider them as spoil. I have always tried to be generous however this would usually be dictated by my pocket. Over the years they have had the latest phones, laptops and a lot of nice clothes. Do I consider this spoilt? My honest answer is yes and why did I do it? Quite simply because I could and something I realised too late was the bigger the gif, the bigger the next gift had to be so it was somewhat of a vicious circle, but of my own making.
Now the reasons children want more is not just down to their friends, but I believe it to be the internet , television and celebrities all brainwashing our kids to think that they need this and that. It’s great marketing by big brands.
Fast forward on to my nearly four year old twin daughters and we are far from rich, but also we are not short of money. My wife and I earn good money so we can afford to buy what we want when we want, but within reason of course.
Blogging has been so good for the girls and they have had numerous toys, clothes, shoes etc all free, but this is the dilemma Do we give the girls what has been sent for review or do we hold it back for a special occasion?
Personally I think we have been sent them for review so I may as well let the girls have them. Why not? It’s not spoiling them. The hard work we have put in just means they are benefitting from it.
Recently I read that some bloggers who have received toys to review will give them to their children and tell them that Santa has sent them for them to try out and if they like them then they can have them back at Christmas.
I personally don’t agree with this. I don’t think it’s a good idea and I know that I’d feel bad giving a toy to my children and then taking it back off them again, but I can kind of understand where they’re coming from as they don’t want their children to be spoilt.
Do I think children of today are spoilt? Not even slightly! They live in a world which is moving at a very fast pace with so much available and if you can give them something extra why not?
5 Comments
Kirsten Toyne
September 1, 2015 at 7:53 am
Children certainly have more stuff but I think they are actually worse off in some ways. They have less freedom and are under more pressure. however on the upside I think that parents are now more aware of children's emotional needs which is great.
Random Musings
September 2, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Great post. I think whether or not a child is spoilt is down to how they are given things. If you give them something because you want them to have it, or even if they ask nicely, I agree – if you can afford it, why not give them it. What parent doesn't want their child to have nice things? I think of being spoilt as if the child demands something and is told no, they throw a massive strop and then are rewarded by getting the toy.
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes
Debbie
Becky H
September 4, 2015 at 4:26 pm
My husband and I are always keen to define the difference between spoiled and spoilt. We say that spoiled means that we have spoiled them with things, outings etc. but we don't want them to act spoilt. I see no problem in them having things as long as they don't develop a sense of entitlement to anything and everything!
Stressed Mum
September 5, 2015 at 9:21 am
Love this post, I think todays society is totally different to that of when we were growing up or when are parents were growing up. There is so much more on offer now. There were no such things as mobile phones when I grew up, but my daughter has an ipone, only because she has my old one and I have my husbands old one, we certainly would not be in a position to buy a new one for her. I think like our parents and grandparents, we give our kids what we can afford as we all like to see them happy, it is just these days there is so much more available
Pauline
September 5, 2015 at 7:50 pm
I think they're spoiled. My oldests birthday and Christmas' have cost me an arm and leg but it's definitely my own fault I can't help myself but now I have 2 kids and this Christmas is going to be very different. My oldest now knows about Santa not being real and that I have 2 kids to buy for, so I'm only buying things that he may need and a few requests. He has all the latest gadgets and I want to teach him things cost money now santas workshops closed down, my youngest won't need that much as he won't remember. So yes it's definitely our own doing, I love buying stuff for my kids.