The July 2 issue of The New Yorker published an article called, "Spoiled Rotten: Why Do Kids Rule the Roost?" that describes the frustrations many parents are experiencing today because their kids are unable to do things for themselves and are dependent on their parents for things that really should be their job and responsibility. This epidemic of spoiled kids has given rise to a new genre of parenting books, such as The Price of Privilege, Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success, and A Nation of Wimps. Kolbert writes: "The books are less how-to guides than how-not-to's: how not to give in to your toddler, how not to intervene whenever your teenager looks bored, how not to spend two hundred thousand dollars on tuition only to find your twenty-something graduate back at home, drinking all your beer."
Raising kids of character might mean doing less for them. It might mean allowing them to be frustrated at times and learning to work it out. And it certainly means making them responsible around the house.
Priority #8 in The Biggest Job is Create a Character Culture. The first important ingredient for building this culture is: Get a Job – everyone needs to learn how to work. If the child is too young for a paying job, they can do volunteer work. A job not only contributes useful work, but instills a sense of accomplishment. Even toddlers can pick up their toys each evening. By encouraging your child to get a job, or giving your younger children jobs, it will build your child's character, and help them learn to be independent.
Next month: Ingredient #2 for creating a character culture-- family meetings
