Extravagance and wastefulness in children the most important signs and methods of prevention and treatment

"Wastefulness and Extravagance in Children" is a behavior that parents may notice over time, where the child starts requesting things without stopping or neglecting what they already have. This habit is one of the most common problems faced by mothers and fathers, as it affects the child’s behavior, psychological development, and social growth. In this we will review the signs of wastefulness and extravagance in children and how to deal with them effectively to ensure healthy and proper upbringing. Learn how to modify your child's behavior with practical and proven tips that will help stop extravagance and teach your child the value of money and resources.

What are the Causes of Wastefulness in Children?

Many parents notice their children spending money quickly or consuming things without appreciating their value. If you're one of those who have observed this, it’s important to understand the reasons behind it in order to address the issue. Here are the main causes that make children act wastefully:

1. Imitating Adults
   Children naturally imitate the behaviors of adults, especially their parents. If a child sees their father or mother buying many things without considering the cost, they might think that this is the right behavior and mimic it.

2. Not Understanding the Value of Money
   Many children do not understand that money comes from hard work, which makes them believe that money is always available and that there is no problem with spending it quickly.

3. Excessive Pampering
   When parents fulfill all the child’s requests without setting boundaries, the child becomes accustomed to the idea that they should get everything they want, leading to wastefulness and excessive consumption.

4. Advertisements and Temptations
   Advertisements filled with toys and tempting items have a huge impact on children. When children see an advertisement, they may feel the need to own everything that catches their eye.

5. Lack of Financial Guidance
   If children haven’t learned from a young age how to manage their allowance or differentiate between needs and wants, they will act wastefully because no one has taught them the right way to manage money.

6. Compensating for Emotional Lack
   Sometimes, children spend or ask for many things to compensate for feelings of emotional neglect or a lack of attention in their lives. This makes them try to fill their emptiness with purchases.

7. Lack of Responsibility
   A child who is not taught to take responsibility for their belongings won't understand the value of things or money. This leads to wasting things without thinking.

8. Jealousy and Comparisons
   When a child sees their friends with new or special items, they may feel jealous and want to imitate them, even if that means spending more than they can afford.

9. Boredom
   A child who feels bored or has nothing to do may start asking for things or consuming what they have quickly simply because they don't have anything else to engage in.

10. Poor Role Models
    If the parents or older siblings do not manage their financial resources well, the child will be influenced and follow the same wasteful behavior.

11. Consumer Pressure
    Society is full of a culture of constant consumption: "Buy more, keep your life always new." Children are influenced by these ideas and may start believing that they must consume all the time.

12. Lack of Clear Boundaries
    When parents don’t set clear boundaries for spending or purchasing, the child feels free to act however they want, leading to overspending.

13. Associating Money with Happiness
    If a child becomes accustomed to receiving money or gifts every time they feel upset or ask for something, they begin to associate money with happiness, leading them to spend more in an attempt to feel joy.

14. Not Feeling the Effort in Earning Money
    A child who doesn't face difficulties in life or see their parents working hard to save money won't be able to appreciate the value of money.

15. Lack of Conversations About Money
    Many parents believe that discussing money with children is not appropriate. However, the lack of financial conversations harms the child's financial awareness in the long run.

16. Desire for Attention
    Some children spend or ask for many things in order to attract the attention of their parents or those around them, stemming from an internal need for affection.

Types of Wastefulness in Children

Wastefulness is not just a single action, but rather a collection of varied behaviors that may appear in different aspects of a child's life. Each type of wastefulness has its own impact, and understanding them well can help us assist children in modifying these behaviors. Here are the most common types of wastefulness that you might notice in your child:

1. Financial Wastefulness
   This occurs when a child spends their allowance quickly on unnecessary things like toys or sweets, without thinking about the importance of money or how to manage it wisely.

2. Food Wastefulness
   Food wastefulness is a common behavior among children. They may eat large amounts of food and then leave it unfinished, or open more than one type of food and let the rest go to waste.

3. Wastefulness of Toys and Tools
   Some children demonstrate irresponsible behavior toward their toys and belongings, breaking them or losing them easily, even though they have many items they could take care of.

4. Wastefulness of Energy and Water
   An example of energy wastefulness is leaving the lights on in every room or running the tap for long periods without need, which affects both the environment and household bills.

5. Time Wastefulness
   Wastefulness doesn't just involve material things; it also applies to time. When a child spends long hours watching TV or using their phone without benefiting from their time in activities like studying or creative play, they are wasting time.

6. Wastefulness of Clothes and School Supplies
   Children who do not take care of their clothes or school supplies, either through negligence or misuse, cause these items to wear out quickly, requiring constant replacement.

7. Wastefulness of Emotions
   Wastefulness of emotions occurs when a child displays exaggerated reactions, whether through anger or happiness, without a real reason. This leads to emotional instability and makes them feel emotionally drained.

8. Wastefulness of Effort
   When a child exerts a lot of effort on matters that have no real value, such as playing for excessively long periods or focusing on trivial things, they waste their energy on non-productive activities.

9. Wastefulness of Opportunities
   A child who squanders available opportunities, whether in academic achievement or participation in useful activities, is wasting opportunities for success and personal growth.

10. Wastefulness of Relationships
    Another form of wastefulness is when a child neglects their social relationships or interacts with others disrespectfully, which can affect their future relationships and lead to social isolation.

11. Wastefulness in Using Electronic Devices
    Wastefulness in using electronic devices happens when a child leaves their device running for hours without any benefit or installs numerous apps and games that harm the device, causing it to deteriorate quickly.

12. Wastefulness of Words
    Some children use words without purpose or speak in an offensive manner, which diminishes the impact of their words on others and causes them to lose respect from those around them.

13. Wastefulness of Positive Emotions
    When a child excessively distributes compliments or praise without sincerity, the value of these words fades over time, making them unreliable.

14. Wastefulness in Using School Supplies
    A child who breaks their pencils, tears their notebooks, or uses school supplies carelessly and irresponsibly causes these items to wear out quickly and reduces their value.

15. Wastefulness of Gifts
    When a child neglects the gifts they receive or asks for many gifts without appreciating their value or the effort of the giver, it reflects wastefulness in how they treat the gifts they receive.

16. Wastefulness in Family Time
    When a child wastes family time by watching TV or being absorbed in their phone instead of enjoying meaningful moments with family members, they are squandering precious moments that could strengthen family bonds.

Signs of Wastefulness in Children

If you've noticed that your child is overindulging in spending money or using things excessively, it may be an indication of wastefulness in their behavior. Here are the most common signs that a child may be exhibiting wasteful habits:

1. Constantly Asking for Money
   A child who constantly asks for money without any justification or to buy unnecessary things reflects a lack of appreciation for the value of money.

2. Random Consumption of Things
   A child who frequently buys toys or new things without using what they already have shows clear signs of wastefulness.

3. Not Taking Care of Possessions
   A child who doesn’t care about maintaining their belongings, such as toys or school supplies, and breaks or loses them easily, indicates they don’t value what they own.

4. Food Waste
   When a child eats large amounts of food and leaves it unfinished or requests additional food without need, it reflects wastefulness in food consumption.

5. Neglecting Recycling or Reusing Items
   A child who prefers buying new things instead of reusing or repairing old items demonstrates wasteful consumption of resources.

6. Constantly Changing Clothes or Toys
   If a child frequently changes their clothes or asks for new clothes even though they have enough, this is a sign of wastefulness.

7. Bragging About Possessions
   A child who boasts about their new toys or belongings and takes pride in what they own without appreciating its true value shows materialistic wastefulness.

8. Procrastinating or Wasting Time
   If a child wastes time on unproductive activities or delays completing their school tasks, it reflects a type of time wastefulness.

9. Imitating Wasteful Behaviors from Adults
   A child who mimics irresponsible behaviors from adults, such as overspending or focusing excessively on appearances, reflects the influence of their surroundings.

10. Preferring Comfort Over Effort
    When a child prefers comfort over putting in effort and quickly feels tired when asked to perform simple tasks, it indicates wastefulness in energy and time.

11. Exaggerated Reactions to Gifts
    A child who expects to receive gifts or new things constantly and loses enjoyment when they don't get them shows wasteful behavior in appreciating what they already have.

12. No Sense of Satisfaction
    A child who consumes a lot but never feels satisfied or happy and doesn’t find contentment in anything reflects wastefulness in their attempt to fill emotional voids.

13. Avoiding Responsibility for Their Actions
    A child who avoids taking responsibility for their actions, such as breaking toys or damaging their belongings, shows a lack of appreciation for their possessions.

14. Asking for Things They Don’t Need
    If a child constantly asks for new things, like toys or clothes, without any real need for them, it indicates wastefulness driven by curiosity or external influences.

15. Anxiety and Stress When They Don’t Get What They Want
    A child who feels upset or stressed when they don’t get something new or when they cannot buy something immediately reflects wastefulness not only in material things but also emotionally.

Table to Motivate a Child to Change Their Financial Behavior

To encourage a child to improve their financial behavior, you can follow a systematic plan to help them think rationally about managing money. Here's a suggested table:

Harms of Wastefulness in Children

Wastefulness doesn’t only affect a child in the present but leaves negative impacts that persist throughout their life. Here are the main harms that may result from wastefulness in children:

1. Weak Appreciation for the Value of Things
   When a child becomes accustomed to consuming everything easily, they lose the ability to appreciate the value of the things they own. They also fail to recognize the effort others put into providing those things, which affects their sense of responsibility.

2. Difficulty in Taking Responsibility
   Wastefulness teaches a child to take what they want without feeling responsible for their belongings. This habit affects them in the future, making it difficult to take responsibility for their life and make important decisions.

3. Future Financial Problems
   A child who doesn’t learn how to manage money or distinguish between their needs and wants may face financial difficulties as they grow older. They may struggle with saving money or managing personal expenses.

4. Weak Planning and Decision-Making Skills
   Wastefulness leads to hasty decisions without thinking deeply. This habit affects the child’s personality and makes it hard for them to plan for the future or make thoughtful decisions.

5. Selfishness and Lack of Cooperation
   Wastefulness may lead a child to become selfish, focusing on fulfilling their desires without thinking about the needs of others. This behavior affects their ability to cooperate with others and build healthy social relationships.

6. Feelings of Dissatisfaction
   A child who wastes many things often feels empty and dissatisfied. Despite having many possessions, they continue searching for more, which reinforces their feelings of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

7. Weak Saving Skills
   A child who gets used to wastefulness doesn’t learn how to save for future needs. As a result, they may struggle to cope with tough times, such as financial crises or emergencies.

8. Stress and Anxiety
   A child who spends a lot and cannot meet their desires constantly feels anxious and stressed. This mental pressure affects their happiness and makes it difficult to deal with daily challenges.

9. Difficulty Adapting to Life's Conditions
   Life is full of challenges. A child who becomes accustomed to wastefulness may have difficulty adapting to difficult circumstances or a simpler life. They may feel frustrated and unhappy when forced to live with limited resources or in less luxurious conditions.

10. Loss of Trust from Family and Surroundings
    If the child continues to waste and neglect responsibility, they may lose the trust of their family and those around them. This issue can affect their social relationships and reduce the respect others have for them.

11. Adopting Harmful Consumer Behaviors
    Over time, the child may develop excessive consumer behavior, buying things they don’t need or getting deceived by promotions and discounts. This behavior harms their financial life and affects their mental well-being.

12. Shopping Addiction
    Wastefulness can turn into an addiction to shopping. In some cases, the child may become accustomed to buying new things simply for the momentary happiness it brings, even if they don't need them. This kind of addiction can affect their financial and mental stability in the long run.

Practical Tips to Modify Wasteful Behavior in Children

Modifying wasteful behavior in children requires patience and guidance. Here are some practical tips that can help steer a child towards healthier financial behavior:

1. Set a Fixed Monthly Allowance
   Start by setting a fixed monthly allowance for the child and teach them how to allocate this money for their actual needs. This will help them understand that money is limited and that they must think before spending.

2. Teach the Value of Money Through Practical Activities
   Use daily activities to teach the child the value of money. For example, encourage them to participate in a small project or open a savings account where they can save part of their allowance. These activities help them appreciate money and encourage mindful spending.

3. Set Clear Rules for Consumption
   Establish clear household rules about buying and consuming. The child should understand that gifts or toys are not continuous and they need to wait before asking for something new.

4. Involve the Child in Financial Decision-Making
   Let the child participate in deciding the family's purchasing priorities. Teach them how to balance between what they need and what they want, helping to strengthen their ability to make sound financial decisions.

5. Teach the Child to Balance Wants and Needs
   Help the child distinguish between "wants" and "needs." Encourage them to focus on buying necessary items first, and only consider personal desires afterward.

6. Be a Positive Role Model
   Be a good example to the child in your financial behaviors. If they see you respect money and make careful decisions, they will learn how to manage their own money wisely. Avoid bragging about purchases in front of them.

7. Involve the Child in Household Chores
   Let the child participate in household chores and explain how these tasks contribute to saving money. This will help them understand the effort others put in to earn money.

8. Encourage the Child to Care for Their Possessions
   Teach the child how to take care of their toys and clothes. This will help them appreciate the things they own and reduce the constant desire to buy new items.

9. Reward Positive Behavior
   Encourage the child to improve their financial behavior through non-material rewards, such as spending enjoyable time with the family. This will help them realize the importance of discipline in managing money.

10. Teach the Child the Value of Gratitude
    Encourage the child to express gratitude for the things they own. When they feel thankful, they will begin to appreciate what they have and become more mindful of not wasting money.

11. Use a "Points System" to Reward Good Behavior
    Implement a points system or non-material rewards to encourage positive behavior. For example, the child can earn points when they manage their allowance well or take care of their possessions, and you can reward them with an enjoyable activity.

12. Encourage the Child to Do Charity Work
    Encourage your child to donate things they no longer need. This habit will teach them how to appreciate what they have and instill a sense of social responsibility towards others.

13. Teach the Child How to Plan for Their Needs
    Train your child to define their monthly needs. Before asking for something new, encourage them to think about whether they really need it or if they will use it effectively.

14. Activate the Concept of "Delay"
    Teach the child how they can delay buying something unnecessary for a while. For example, they can delay purchasing a toy or clothes for a week and review if the need for it still exists.

15. Talk About the Value of Things After They Are Used
    After the child acquires something new, ask them how they’ve used it. This helps them think about how to use and protect things, increasing their appreciation for what they own.

16. Avoid Continuous Financial Rewards
    Try to avoid giving the child financial rewards constantly, as this may associate money with happiness. Use non-material rewards that encourage good behavior, such as special time with the family or sharing a unique activity.

17. Encourage the Child to Search for Discounts and Deals
    Encourage your child to look for discounts and deals before buying anything. This will help them learn how to shop wisely and ensure they are getting the best value for their money.

18. Teach the Child to Think Before Making Financial Decisions
    Before purchasing anything, encourage the child to think about whether it is necessary or beneficial for them. This habit will improve their ability to make wise financial decisions in the future.