Spoilt Children

[YesAnastasia]

It was DS1 4th birthday and he got lots of presents including a wooden playhouse for the garden and various other toys he was very pleased with.

Today the windows on the playhouse are scratched and smashed and other toys are lost and/or broken by either DS1 or DS2 (2.7).

I've flipped today and went on about children with no mummies or daddies, no nice clothes, treats for dinner etc. It means nothing to them, I'm handling it all wrong and will have spoilt brat children who have no respect for their belongings (or other peoples). I can't believe I have raised them to be this way. How has this happened?

Anyone know an effective way of teaching children to be grateful and respectful?

Surely people can find a happy medium?!

I don't agree with one toy ...but don't agree with mass mess either.
The option to choose "some" toys from the toy cupboard, and then put something away before you get another out, works just fine as a middle line.
As does clearing away toys before lunch and getting others back out for the afternoon.
As does removing toys if they are not being played with nicely, or children are not sharing nicely.

And of course children may cry when told off. That lies somewhere between zero discipline, and 'telling them off until they are sobbing'.

Balanced approach ....balanced kids.

I really don't see the harm in them crying because they get told off - actions have consequences, simple as

Maybe read the thread properly. Who says that a child crying is to be avoided?

The objection is to ResllyTired's assumption that you need to tell a child off until they're sobbing for it to be effective. That is ridiculous. Children don't always sob when told off, they may sulk or accept they've done wrong. But acfoeding to RT we should aim for sobbing

Ffs what a mess of a post!!!!!