Parents come from different backgrounds. Some have an incomplete past where their needs have not been met when they were children. Others come from families who have constantly supplied and lavished them with their needs and wants alike. Some parents who represent both of these groups are determined to instantly complete the needs of their children in order to show love. Is this healthy? Does this instant satisfaction have long term effects?

    Modern psychology shows that it is not healthy to give what your child asks from you as soon as they demand it. The concept is called "Delay of gratification". A small delay in supplying what your child is asking you is training him to be patient, thankful and later develop into adults who are able to withstand the pressures of life. 




 This process gives the child the opportunity to work up to earning what they need instead of just giving it. This is not about their basic needs such as food, water, safety etc. You can ask your child to wait a few minutes for their snack, put off a week in buying him the toy he wants, teach him to earn stars or points by way of a star chart to obtain his favorite meal from McDonalds or clean his room before he sits down for television. All these activities and many other creative ways teach the child to pay attention to give weight to an activity that might not seem pleasing at present but will bring gratification later. It will also help them analyze and think over about what they actually need. It will be a handy tool for their adult life in prioritizing and organizing their work and to be thankful for what they get.