A barrage of articles about spoiled American children has popped up in the last few weeks, and it got me thinking about the topic and if it is true.

Yes, American children have access to a lot of “things” at a younger age, and parents have become much more involved in children’s daily lives. But does that mean kids are spoiled? I think it can, and the true test of a parent may be managing these “things” while at the same time allowing kids to experience responsibility and consequences.

I will admit to turning my nose up at the many “our way is superior to your way” books about raising children that have become so popular in the past few years. I haven’t read any cover to cover, and maybe that isn’t fair, although I am feeling pretty proud of that at this moment. I have, however, read excerpts and many of the articles debating these books' claims on both sides of the argument. I do realize that there are things the American parenting culture could improve on—for example, childhood nutrition. That being said, I in no way think we should abandon all we know about American parenting and start "bringing up bebe" in the French, Chinese or ancient Greek way.  

So what are American parents to do?

I can sum it up in one word that I use around our house so much that my then three-year-old daughter defined it for a classmate who didn’t know what she was talking about: moderation. Think moderation when buying toys, signing your kids up for activities, buying food and walking through Target. Sure, little Mary Sue would love another doll baby to add to her growing collection, but what has she done to earn it? I bet young Tommy would devour the gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream you got to go along with the chocolate fudge and rocky road you already have in the freezer, but at what cost? And let’s not forget that every young child needs a $20 pair of flip flops (this was a hard one for me because they matched mine and were oh so cute, but I didn’t cave).

The problem is that "spoiled child syndrome" (yes, it is real and was coined by Bruce McIntosh in 1989) isn’t always as obvious as a four-year-old temper tantrum. It can be subtle and manipulative—as subtle as a 10-year-old turning his nose up at dinner because “someone forgot to put silverware out and I can’t eat with my hands." Instead of telling the child to get up and get the silverware for everyone, the parent jumps up and does it for them. It can be as manipulative as a six-year-old asking their mom to go get their blanket because they don’t want to miss any of their favorite TV show. Meanwhile, Mom is making dinner, unloading the dishwasher and paying bills, all at the same time.

If Mom and Dad are doing everything for little Mary Sue and Tommy, then why would they do anything for themselves?

I am not suggesting we never do anything nice for our children. I am a huge fan of filling other’s buckets ("How Full Is Your Bucket For Kids" by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer), and the kids and I talk about doing nice things for others daily. When it is an occasional ask or want, then I am all for it, but when it becomes their nature, we have a problem.

I get it. It’s hard to say no sometimes. Harder yet when your children are generally well behaved, loving kids. But in case you weren’t told ahead of time, our job as a parent is hard.

Maybe it is time to start showing our kids how to give back. It just isn't necessary to have all of those toys, games and clothes when there are so many kids going without. I had my kids clean out our toy closet and asked them to give away the toys and games they had outgrown. They had no problem with the idea, and I even had them join me when I dropped the bin off at a local charity organization.

Taking them through Target will need more work, but maybe some advanced notice of a one-toy rule would help. Or maybe they can bring their own money. Kids nowadays seem to have way more than I did at their age.