By Jean Illsley Clarke
Tips for avoiding overindulgence: ■ Insist that your child learn to care for her belongings and to respect other people’s property. ■ Be sure your child’s day includes enough free time (away from the tube) for him to learn to entertain himself. ■ Be sure to allow your child to do what she is old enough to do for herself most of the time. ■ Have some clear rules and insist that children follow them. ■ Make sure that children do some household chores that benefit the whole family.
There is more help about avoiding each of these three ways of overindulgence in “How Much is Enough? Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible, and Respectful Children.” (Jean Illsley Clarke Ph.D., David J. Bredehoft Ph.D. and Connie Dawson Ph.D., are co-authors of How Much Is Enough? Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible and Respectful Children — From Toddlers to Teens).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 6, 2004. Read the original PDF.