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7 Signs Your Kids Are Spoiled—Even If You Swear They’re Not

May 18, 2025 | Leave a Comment

7 Signs Your Kids Are Spoiled Even If You Swear Theyre Not

No parent sets out to raise a spoiled child. You want your kids to feel loved, supported, and special—and that’s a beautiful thing. But in a world full of instant gratification, endless entertainment, and “treat yourself” culture, it’s easier than ever to tip into overindulgence without even realizing it. Spoiling doesn’t just show up in toy aisles or birthday parties; it can sneak in through habits, attitudes, and repeated behaviors that feel normal but actually signal entitlement. If you’re wondering whether your child’s behavior crosses the line, these subtle signs might be worth a closer look.

1. They Expect a Reward for Basic Behavior

If your child won’t clean up their toys, brush their teeth, or follow simple rules without asking “What do I get?” it’s a major red flag. Spoiled kids often learn to associate every task with a reward instead of understanding that some responsibilities just come with being part of a family. When praise or treats are handed out too often for expected behavior, it creates a sense of entitlement rather than pride in doing the right thing. Kids should feel good about being helpful, not just because it earns them something. Learning to contribute without conditions builds maturity and respect for others.

2. “No” Sparks a Full-On Meltdown

All kids struggle with disappointment, especially toddlers, but if your older child regularly explodes at the word “no,” it could be a sign that they’re used to getting their way. A spoiled child often sees boundaries as negotiable and may react with tantrums, yelling, or sulking when they don’t get what they want. This happens when they’ve been given the message—intentionally or not—that persistence or pushback leads to a yes. Teaching kids to accept limits calmly is part of raising resilient, emotionally balanced adults. If “no” never feels final, the real problem isn’t their reaction—it’s the pattern.

3. They Don’t Say “Thank You” (Even When Reminded)

Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally, but it can be taught—and should be expected. If your child rarely shows appreciation for gifts, meals, or acts of kindness, it may signal that they’ve come to see those things as automatic rather than special. Spoiled kids often overlook the effort behind what they receive because they’ve learned to focus on what’s next, not what’s already been given. A consistent lack of gratitude isn’t just a manners issue—it’s a mindset. Teaching kids to recognize and appreciate what they have helps combat entitlement from the inside out.

4. They Constantly Compare Themselves to Others

“I want one like Ava’s!” or “Why didn’t I get more than my cousin?” are more than just occasional comments—they can be signs that your child measures happiness in quantity, not quality. Spoiled children often see life as a competition where they need to come out on top. This attitude creates jealousy, dissatisfaction, and a lack of empathy toward others. Instead of celebrating what they have, they focus on what they don’t—and expect you to fill the gap. Helping kids understand contentment and individuality reduces the need to always match or outdo their peers.

5. They Make Demands Instead of Requests

There’s a big difference between “Can I please have a snack?” and “Get me juice now.” If your child regularly talks to you like a personal assistant instead of a parent, it may be time for a reset. Demanding behavior, especially when it’s paired with impatience or rudeness, signals that your child isn’t learning respect or healthy communication. Kids who are used to being catered to often skip polite conversation because they’ve never had to wait or ask properly. Reinforcing the importance of tone and kindness builds more than manners—it builds character.

6. They Don’t Help Without Being Asked (and Even Then, They Resist)

Every child should have age-appropriate responsibilities, whether it’s feeding the dog, making their bed, or setting the table. If your child avoids chores or acts like you’re asking the impossible when you request help, it may be because they’re used to others doing everything for them. Spoiled children often assume that effort is someone else’s job and view helping as optional. But in families, everyone needs to pitch in—and doing so teaches responsibility, teamwork, and accountability. If your child resists every request, it’s time to reinforce that helping is part of belonging.

7. They Always Want More—And Never Seem Satisfied

No matter how much they have, some kids always ask for something else. A new toy loses its shine within a day. One treat leads to begging for another. While it’s normal for kids to be excited about stuff, a constant hunger for more often reveals deeper entitlement issues. Spoiled children often struggle with contentment and have trouble feeling grateful because they’ve learned that getting things equals feeling loved. Reframing love as time, presence, and connection—not just purchases—helps shift their focus to what truly matters.

Small Habits, Big Lessons

Spoiling isn’t about a single toy or a holiday splurge—it’s about the patterns we reinforce through everyday interactions. The good news is, it’s never too late to shift those patterns. Setting boundaries, expecting gratitude, and modeling respect don’t require being harsh—they just require consistency and love that prioritizes growth over gratification. Raising kind, resilient kids means letting them feel discomfort sometimes and helping them learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them. And believe it or not, they’ll thank you later.

Have you ever had a “wake-up call” moment that made you rethink your child’s behavior? Share it with us in the comments!

Read More:

6 Times Parents Should Discipline in Public – Not Behind Closed Doors

10 Places Your Kids Are Picking Up Bad Habits – And You Didn’t Even Notice

Catherine Reed
Catherine Reed

Catherine is a tech-savvy writer who has focused on the personal finance space for more than eight years. She has a Bachelor’s in Information Technology and enjoys showcasing how tech can simplify everyday personal finance tasks like budgeting, spending tracking, and planning for the future. Additionally, she’s explored the ins and outs of the world of side hustles and loves to share what she’s learned along the way. When she’s not working, you can find her relaxing at home in the Pacific Northwest with her two cats or enjoying a cup of coffee at her neighborhood cafe.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: child behavior, entitlement, family discipline, parenting boundaries, parenting tips, raising respectful kids, spoiled kids

3 Principles for Teaching Children Gratitude Lessons

September 7, 2016 | Leave a Comment

Image for teaching children gratitude lessonsWhether your income is $25,000 or $250,000, you have the same tremendous opportunity with your children. You get to help them shape their worldview as they wrestle with topics like entitlement, gratefulness, greed, and contentment. It’s not always easy, but gratitude lessons can sprout up from everyday moments, as we’ll see in today’s article.

Little conversations about money, life, and more can become common place on car rides, around the dinner table, or before lights out at night.

Getting started is the hardest part.

So here are a few conversation starters for you and your child.

3 Principles for Teaching Children Gratitude Lessons

1. Show them what they have.

One powerful way to help your children understand how much work goes into the things they own is to show them.

For example, pay for your groceries in cash the next time you’re all at the grocery store. Let them see the 50’s or 100’s you hand over to the cashier in exchange for your next week or two of meals.

Show them how you choose a product (i.e. whether it’s on sale, you have a coupon for it, etc.). Talk about why you don’t spend a great deal on certain products or why you’ve cut back on others.

Encourage your children to ask questions on the drive home. If they’re old enough to understand, talk about how many hours it took you or your significant other to work in order to pay for a month’s worth of food.

2. Be consistent with your “No” and explain why it can be a good thing.

Not all negative experiences for your children are bad. One of the greatest and most challenging gifts we can offer our kids is our healthy use of the word “No.”

For example, I recently won a large container of Tootsie Rolls in a guessing game at a family reunion. My 2-year-old knows they’re in the house, so he drew a simple conclucsion: Chocolate candy for breakfast. Every morning.

Did I say “Yes” to his requests? No. Did he ask again and wail when I turned him down? Yes. It would feel better to make him happy, but I kept saying “no candy for breakfast” because:

  1. I love my son.
  2. The Buddy the Elf diet isn’t going to cut it.

It’s the same with saying no to other things in your kids’ lives. Sticking with your answer – however difficult – will give them a healthy dose of boundaries if you also take the necessary time to explain your reasons.

Bonus Tip:

Sometimes, you can offer a positive alternative without giving in. If they want candy for breakfast, my answer could be “No, but if you finish your breakfast, you may have one later as a snack.” If my daughter is fixated on a new toy she can’t have, that gives us the chance to talk the cost of toys. We can discuss bringing some of her own money next time – or doing chores to earn enough for that item.
OR just stick with your answer. You don’t owe your kids a Disney experience at the store or the breakfast table.

Gratitude lessons can feel harsh, but, like I said, they can produce some terrific discussion opportunities between you and your child.

3. Show them how others live with less.

One way to really generate discussions about gratitude versus entitlement is to take your kids to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Hunger and poverty are so prevalent around the world. Children in stable living conditions don’t grow up understanding how other children suffer each day – unless someone shows them.

For example, Audra Rogers from Real Honest Mom did a brave thing for her 8-year-old son. After noticing a few cases of what she called “affluenza” in her son (acting entitled or ungrateful for having a lot of things), she loaded him into the car and spent the day serving in a homeless shelter.

Their experience was so powerful that Disney’s parenting blog, Babble, picked up Audra’s story and published it for other families to see.

Recommended Reading: “What Happened When I Took My Spoiled Kid to a Homeless Shelter” 

You can teach your kids about gratitude through experiences, conversation, books, and the like. I believe, however, the most effective gratitude lessons are simply taught by example. Easier said than done, I know, but the struggle yields a tremendous return: Children who love and appreciate the world in which they live.

When did you begin to understand gratitude as a child? Share an example in the comments below.

Filed Under: Money and Finances, Parenting, Parenting Blog at KidsAintCheap Tagged With: entitlement, gratitude lessons, kids and money, teaching children gratitude

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Basic Principles Of Good Parenting

Here some basic principles for good parenting:

  1. What You Do Matters: Your kids are watching you. So, be purposeful about what you want to accomplish.
  2. You Can’t be Too Loving: Don’t replace love with material possessions, lowered expectations or leniency.
  3. Be Involved Your Kids Life: Arrange your priorities to focus on what your kid’s needs. Be there mentally and physically.
  4. Adapt Your Parenting: Children grow quickly, so keep pace with your child’s development.
  5. Establish and Set Rules: The rules you set for children will establish the rules they set for themselves later.  Avoid harsh discipline and be consistent.
  6. Explain Your Decisions: What is obvious to you may not be evident to your child. They don’t have the experience you do.
  7. Be Respectful To Your Child: How you treat your child is how they will treat others.  Be polite, respectful and make an effort to pay attention.
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