Parenting Under the Stars

A poll conducted by Cookie magazine and AOL concluded that 94% of parents think American children are spoiled. 55% think their own kids contribute to the situation.

Because of the information provided, I’m assuming they’re defining spoiled to mean supplying their children with money without conditions.

It is possible to shower a child with money and still neglect them. I could not find anywhere it mentioned how much affection or time was actually spent with these supposedly spoiled children so it appears they’re only referring to money.

Chores equal money?

One in five parents responded that their children receive an allowance without having to do any specific chores for it. We don’t give money out for chores either but that doesn’t mean they don’t do chores. Interpreting the results depends on how the questions were asked.

We tried the money for chores thing when our older kids were little but gave up on it because didn’t like the attitude that came about as a result.

Children should help simply because they’re part of the family team and not because they’re being paid. Most family members help each other out without receiving money for it. If it works for other people that’s fine but we don’t generally pay for household chores.

• When I think of spoiled children I think of the types of children and behaviors that Supernanny Jo Frost deals with such as major temper tantrums, outright defiance/refusals, constant whining etc. Randi discusses this a little more on her “Do you go Super?” post at Parenting Toddlers.

Among the survey’s other findings:

Use Money as a Reward

• 40% of parents polled said they reward good grades with something other than praise (money or other tangible rewards).

Give Money as a Gift

• 81% of parents polled said it is suitable to give cash to a child.

• 11% of parents put all the money into a savings account.

Give an Allowance

• 13% of kids earn $15 a week or more.

Parents are somewhat split over the age they begin giving their children an allowance.

• 41% gave it between the ages of six and eight.

• 28% between the ages of nine and eleven

• 18% at age twelve or older.

• 13% between the ages of three and five.

• 64% earn their allowance by doing chores.

Money as a Negotiation Tactic

• 69% of parents dock their children’s allowance when they don’t do their chores, or when they misbehave.

A Child’s Own Money

• 85% said their children have a savings account that was given to them at birth (45%) or by the time they turned fifteen(39%)

• 11% of the parents have given their children ATM cards

• 59% do not plan on doing so until their children are sixteen. (New York, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire)