Have you know a child to be unappreciative? What did you do?

I was thinking about my nephew when he received some gifts. He didn't say thank you he said he didn't like that kind he wanted the other one. I remember his parents thanking everyone and they did tell him to be glad he got something or they would give it back. I guess that is one way to handle it. LOL. I always liked the idea of thank you cards. That's how I landed one of my jobs.

I can tell you that if my child ever did something like that I would take all the gifts away until he or she got the message. I think the best way to avoid something like this is to not open gifts in front of guests. It should be done at a later time and then thank you notes should be sent just like wedding gifts. Some children's families can not afford to give flashy or pricey gifts and opening the gifts later saves a child from being embarassed. If the gift recipient is disappointed, after all they are still children, then this child doesn't have to feel bad publicly and the giver of the gift won't feel bad. The child can say they appreciated the gift without having to say they liked it.

Another way is role-modeling. As adults we need to let them see in us that value of gratitude and our homes be filled with different kinds of messages from the heart as to recognition, affirmation, appreciation, apologies and love and caring deeds. Let's exert more effort to let them feel and learn the importance of gratitude, affirmation and appreciation. As parents we really have lots of homework to do with our kids. WE CAN DO IT MAMA! I like this discussion.

When babies are born they are sponges which soak up information and beleave me they are far to clever for us,when they start to walk and talk ,they see people having stuff,enjoy being fed and sometimes they get bored so they try to get attention and one good way of doing it is they embarrasse and show the parent up as much as possible in as many ways as they can,it is up to us as parents to show the right way,children have always snatched and been ungrateful little devils ,none of us are any different.You just have to keep saying the same things over and over and over again till they get the reason for not doing that,Some kids cannot process things as quick as others so it makes them look ungrateful,but kids are ungrateful little takers.although we still love them and want the best for them it is a constant battle of wills which in any luck we win a few but not many.Some kids get showered with stuff and fair enough are not taught to be polite and are allowed to get sway with it,but really good parents don't give up.Just keep rewarding good behavoir with a cuddles and tell them .thanks for being so good.Then when they do something we don't like say,mummies not very pleased with you and change your tone of voice they will in the end want to please you,because if they do they will get rewarded with something,a cuddle,sweet at the end of the week ect, a trip out.

Maybe the rewards are what spoils them. I don't think they should be rewarded with materialistic rewards, but with praise, trips out, playtime. If you don't start the trend of them expecting something in their little hands everytime they are good, then maybe they won't be ungrateful and appreciate when someone does give them something.

I agree to an extent that the parents are to blame for that type of action. I guess I am a little lenient on that because I know some kids have been told and still act poorly.

I don't believe in the canings, but I think it helped that the parents just didn't give the child a materialistic reward either. I'm not sure no reward and all punishment would be the answer to cure a bratty child, but I am beginning to think punishment and taking away gifts would work to create gratitude. Every society can go to the extreme with what they believe is "right". America no longer approves of spanking, yet Asia still canes. In my opinion both countries have gone to the extreme.

I definitely think children should work for things at a certain age. I just don't know why they all believe they should be handed materialistic items they want instead of what was given to them. I am a little concerned with all the materialistic rewards that are given to children for acting the way they are supposed to act.

I agree with you. Value for material things is quite alarming especially among our kids and teens and as parents we need to double time in responding to this gap. To let our children understand the real essence of gratitude, of being thankful for whatever blessings they have -- like them being in school, eating on time, have house to live, clothes to wear and parents to provide all the love and care that they need than focusing on material things as a MUST to make them happy and experience the feeling of being "blessed" because of it. Thanks friend and have a great weekend with your family!