Four Ways to Teach Your Child the Value of Selflessness

Out of sheer boredom one day, I happened to be flipping through a popular teen magazine when I noticed a disturbing trend. Not only were the products advertised costly and self indulgent, some of the articles focused mainly on how a teen can get what he or she wants. One article even went so far as to encourage teens to get their parents to buy them a prepaid debit card so that they could go spend it on clothes and bedroom décor.

It probably shouldn't have surprised me. In an age where technology rules and every teen has a cell phone and an iPod, many of today's youth have forgotten about the art of giving. In fact, society is more "gimme" than ever before. Not only has the idea of charity become non-existent during any time of the year that's not Christmas, but too many things are taken for granted. To be at the top of the teenage food chain, kids have to have the latest in accessories with no concern to what it's costing their parents.

Whether this is a side effect of the advertising blitz or parents who can't say no to their kids, this generation of young adults is coming across as selfish and disrespectful For those parents with younger children, there are ways to start instilling in your kids the value of not only giving, but of not taking for granted the things they have in life.

Try these four simple steps to teach your young one the values of being selfless in a materialistic world.

1.Learn to say "No" - Not giving your child everything he or she wants does not make you a bad parent. Instead, it shows that you're ready to set limits and not give in to their every whim. When they learn at an early age that they're not going to get everything they want, it makes them appreciate what they do have. While you don't have to use the old "Children in third world countries don't have as many toys as you" line every time, eventually your child will learn the truth of that statement.