A lot of parents fall into the “guilt” trap. That is, they try to compensate their children with both tangible and intangible things to make up for what they thought they lack. For example, a busy business executive may feel guilty when he does not spend as much time with his child as he should. Meanwhile though, a poor farmer can also feel this guilt especially when his child needs to wake up and work in the early morning. So while, their “compensation” technique may not be the same, the result is the same, their child become spoiled.

The executive may give a lot of toys and clothes to his child while the farmer may compensate his child by not letting him contribute to the housework. There are also some parents who give too much attention to their child that it becomes unhealthy for the child’s well-being. He can become clingy and dependent when he grows up because he feels like his parents will always help him anyway.

Parents should realize that is a certain healthy amount of gifts and attention that should only be given to he child. They should never overdo it because the positive result they are expecting may in fact turn negative. So getting rid of the guilt and becoming more in tune to the child’s needs is the key to a happy childhood.