Baby Boomers Guide to The Dangers of Overindulgence

15 Sep Baby Boomers Guide to The Dangers of Overindulgence

Psychological Article on Baby Boomers Guide to The Overindulged Child

A Psychological Article by Boomeryearbook.com

Overindulging a child can set off a heartbreaking string of dysfunctions, rendering the child unable to socialize effectively with others. The middle aged and elderly baby boomer is at the sharper end of trying to manage children with the symptoms of spoiling, usually in the role of grandparent.

Baby boomers enjoyed a long leash as children, as a rule. Baby boomers were not in the unenviable position of being ‘seen and not heard’ – in fact most were seen and heard and how! Baby boomers therefore sometimes have an issue with inflicting discipline on their nearest and dearest – it’s that freedom thing again!

Freedom of choice for children is certainly wonderful but hardly appropriate when it’s three hours past midnight and everyone wants to kill Junior because he is playing baseball in the dining room. Baby boomers have an inbred ability to be laid back but indulgence of this kind is harmful to the child and anyway, the rest of the family have a right to peace and quiet.

Overindulgence is sometimes understandably mistaken for love. Love makes the World go around true enough but unfortunately, overindulgence can lead to dysfunction and unhappiness for a child who is too young to understand why he is no longer invited to birthday parties and play dates. He (or she) will not have comprehended that his poor behaviour in the past precludes him from further invitation. That poor behaviour is usually the result of overindulgence on the part of the parents, the grandparents, or both.

The urge to protect and nurture a child is overwhelming for some and perhaps for baby boomers there is an acute desire to ensure grandchildren enjoy the world as much as they did when growing up. Whatever the excuse for providing a child with an excess of everything, the result is the same; poor behaviour and exclusion for the child.

As the child develops, poor behaviour is likely to deteriorate further if left unchecked. The answer is to recognize the cause and stop the process of overindulgence before the child becomes beyond amendment. Overindulgence is debilitating and can damage a child’s ability to be considerate, to interact sociably, to behave civilly and to retain a level of concentration at school.

The other extreme, which is unrelenting discipline, is equally unacceptable. The happy compromise, somewhere between, is the formula for a happy kid and a happy baby boomer grandparent.

Children flourish within restriction, as long as it is not too harsh. A little restraint can go a long way to providing a healthy framework for a child to grow within and baby boomers are clever enough to know just how much restraint is necessary for peace and harmony.

The Psychological Article on The Baby Boomers Guide to The Dangers of Overindulgence is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of psychological coaching suggestions and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.

Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!