Parents can spend time with children without spoiling them

Many parents grapple with how much is too much for their kids. How do you know if you are spoiling your kids? And if your kid is spoiled, what harm have you done? A Bundle.com survey examined spending by households with children at stores that sell items for tots, kids and teens.

“With so many two-income families, even in today’s eco-nomy, many families have the means to give their kids more than many of us had growing up,” said Julie Bookman of Atlanta Parent magazine.

Overindulgence isn’t always linked to wealth. Some parents spend more on their kids because they feel bad about working. Others feel guilty they can’t afford the latest gadget, and go into debt to get it. Setting limits and sticking to them is important to preventing or curing the overindulged child, say experts.

“Always letting your kids have their way teaches them they have a lot more power and control than they are really able to manage,” said Laura Mee, a child psychologist. “Teaching children to tolerate stress, teaching them to not always get their way ... is a healthy part of growing up.”

And explore other ways to bond. Mee said, “Ride bikes together, or play board games or make cupcakes. It is important ... to think about how to interact with our children in ways that don’t always involve spending money.”