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1-Page Summary of The Opposite of Spoiled

Overview

The author is shocked that kids today have so much stuff. They have smartphones, iPods, consoles and designer gear. It’s a lot of things for someone who grew up in the past decade or two. He thinks they are materialistic and spoiled because of all their stuff.

Why is this? The author says that materialism comes from parents not talking to their children about money, and then just giving them whatever they want.

In order to raise better children, we need to change the way we treat them. So let’s learn how we can turn things around by paying kids for doing chores and not giving them allowances.

Big Idea #1: Teach your children about money to make sure they don’t grow up spoiled.

What is the most common answer to the question, “What’s wrong with kids today?” Some parents would say that they’re violent and stupid. However, by far the most common answer is that they’re spoiled.

When people think about spoiling their kids, they tend to focus on money. However, this doesn’t mean that parents should avoid talking about money with their children.

Spoiled children are defined as those who have little to no chores, tasks or responsibilities. They also don’t have to follow rules or adhere to schedules and they receive too much attention from their parents and often many material possessions.

Money is not the only thing that can spoil your child. Children who learn about money are more likely to develop qualities that would prevent them from being spoiled.

For example, it would be better to give children the opportunity to make donations so they can learn about generosity. Not only that, but you could also teach them patience and thrift by encouraging them to save money or help them learn how to make do with what they have on hand.

It’s very unfortunate that we don’t talk to our children about money. We should, because it would help them learn how to handle money properly and avoid being spoiled by it.

In order to ensure your kids grow up to be well-rounded people, you need to break down these barriers. You can do that by…

Big Idea #2: Answer your kids’ financial questions honestly and show them what things cost.

So, it’s important for children to learn about money. However, many parents don’t know how to teach their kids about it. Some children may ask questions on the topic or overhear adults talking about it and want to know more.

Many parents are uncomfortable when their children ask them questions about money and other personal issues. Parents worry that their kids might want more expensive things, or compare themselves to their friends’ families.

The best thing to do is ask a question in response. Ask them, “why do you want to know?”

There are many reasons why children ask about money. For example, if a child asks “Are we poor?” they might be scared of moving houses, or the question could stem from their desire to buy something for a friend who can’t afford it.

Once you understand why the child is asking the question, it’s important to give them a truthful and honest answer.

It’s important to be open with your children about money. However, you’ll also need to involve them in financial decisions. One way is by showing them bills and explaining how everything costs something. Another is by asking them to guess the cost of an item and letting them know if their guess was too high or low.

The next tip is helpful because children don’t understand how much money is worth. For example, they might think that a car costs $100. By showing them the real cost of things you help them learn what money really means.