My SD Moms I’m pretty certain you don’t think, or even want to consider that you child is a brat because of you. I 
mean…who would want to – after all that’s a tough pill to swallow. Parenting is an uphill battle most of the time (or so it feels), no matter what age your child is. It feels like you’re in a fishbowl and whatever you’re doing is constantly being scrutinized by strangers, friends, and family. If you’re too involved, you’re raising weak children. If you’re not involved enough, you’re a bad parent and neglectful. Now you’re reading an article about how it’s your fault that your child is a brat! Sigh…where does it end?
Although children might pick up bad behavior by modeling what they see on TV or at school, parents are still to blame if they don’t put an end to it. Some parents insist on saying “Oh it’s the age they’re at.” In certain cases that’s true, but using it as a crutch or excuse for their behavior is not the way to help them. Elaine Rose Glickman, author of Your Kid’s a Brat and its All Your Fault says “If we don’t teach our kids a better way, nobody else is stepping up to do so.”
There are ways to stop that bratty behavior. First step is realizing what you’re doing to contribute to it. Don’t get defensive and place blame on someone or someplace else. For example while your child is whining, biting or hitting, saying that’s just what toddlers do could be setting you up for a rough ride ahead. Even at a young age, you must have consequences for your child past hugging them. A hug isn’t always the deserved solution.
One of the other ways to break this behavior is to stop giving them a sense of entitlement. We HATE telling our children no. That’s natural, who wants to see their child sad? But when kids become accustomed to hearing “yes” most of the time, it ends up adding up to be a sense of entitlement where they feel like nothing is enough, which isn’t doing them any favors. When they hit the real world someday, they are in for a sweet treat when they start hearing no.
These are just a couple of things to watch out for as a parent. Go to Popsugar.com to read about more ways to break this cycle.
