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Parenting Style: Is It Okay To Overindulge The Children?

By Hannah Grace | Update Date: Feb 13, 2017 07:30 AM EST

Parents are warned not to overindulge their children, according to some experts. Overindulgence is sometimes powered by a parent's continued absence because of work.

Andre Miller, interim CEO of National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) said that overindulging parents usually have a permissive or lenient parenting style. Though children of permissive parents are generally happy, they may demonstrate low levels of self-control and self-reliance. Structure is often absent with the home.

NPSC encourages parents to practice four primary parenting style: nurturance, structure, empowerment and recognition. According to Miller, parents are required to provide balanced diet and proper nutrition, clothing, love, medical care and shelter to their children. Everything else is just a want and maybe a form of overindulgence.

Indulgent parents are positively described as accepting, affirmative, compliant, lenient and non-punitive. However, if parents consistently provide children with expensive gifts, not letting them do household chores and failing to outline and impose rules and regulations, then they might be overindulging their children already.

Children who are overindulged are more likely not able to appreciate simple and inexpensive gestures. They are more prone to instant gratification. They also tend to rely heavily on others to complete a task assigned to them. The children's mood and self-worth are often measured by their acquaintance's liking them.

Overindulgence in  parenting style may also result to the children's mind-set that it is difficult to be happy and successful unless one is creative, physically attractive and wealthy. Robert Baron, a psychologist, mentioned that overindulgence may also be a risk factor for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Miller urges parents to teach their children what is the difference between want and need. Children should be given duties at home and make them accountable. This will help them develop positive qualities such as being dependable and reliable. In turn, children will feel valuable.

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