The Selfie Generation: Entitled or Empowered?
FACE IT: The Selfie Is Here To Stay.
It’s as ubiquitous as are cell phones.
And isn’t it funny that today is “NATIONAL SELFIE DAY”?!
We live in a world where everyone thinks ‘it’s all about me’ – and that is especially – and acutely accurate for our kids, dubbed, “The Selfie Generation”.
But how do you prevent your child from thinking THEY are the center of the universe?
That’s the KEY question. And you can breathe now, because it’s not all a loss! There are many things you can do to help your kids. And in the process: you will be EMPOWERING and not ENTITLING your children.
Here are a few key tips:
How not to raise a self-centered kid
Parenting is no easy feat, but emphasizing love and support without going overboard is the key to raising a child who won’t turn into a self-centered adult. Here’s how to make it happen.
Set limits.
Regardless of your child’s age, try to see each situation from his perspective and be empathetic, but always set boundaries.
“If you constantly put your child’s needs above other people’s and you don’t set limits with your child on their behavior, then you’re giving the child the message that they’re entitled over and above other people’s needs,” Markham said.
Foster a strong work ethic.
Instead of placing too much emphasis on academics or sports which can create performance anxiety, focus on a strong work ethic and that teaching your child that giving it your all is good enough.
Teach gratitude.
Find opportunities to teach your children to practice gratitude so they will appreciate what they have and be empathic towards others. For example, children can donate toys, collect food for the local food bank or volunteer.
Let them feel unhappiness.
“We need to let them be unhappy, it’s really important. But we need to support them through that unhappiness so that they learn unhappiness is tolerable. That’s how kids become resilient and that’s how kids also get normal competence instead of superior competence,” Markham said.
Say ‘I love you.’
Children whose parents “overvalue,” them by telling them they’re more special than others or entitled to special treatment, in part, seem to grow up to be narcissists, a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found.
Face It: Our JOB is to PARENT- NOT TO BE OUR KIDS’ FRIEND!
EMPOWER them with self-esteem, not self-inflation.
EMPOWER them with education, not misinformation.
EMPOWER them with value, not a life in a vacuum.
EMPOWER them with their intrinsic worth, gifts, uniqueness – not an overinflated ego balloon too filled with themselves it bursts.
EMPOWER your kids so they know thier VALUE, their WORTH, their GIFTS and their ABILITIES.
THAT will serve them for a lifetime.
Go EMPOWER Yourself Today. And Go EMPOWER YOUR CHILDREN TODAY.
And Please, SHARE WITH ME what works in your family and with your kids!
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!