Are kids more spoiled today than in years past? According to a Time/CNN poll, 80% of respondents felt that “kids today are more spoiled than kids of 10 or 15 years ago, and two-thirds of parents admit that their kids are spoiled.”

On the assumption that lovingly caring for your kids is good, but spoiling them is not so good, here are some highlights from Harvard Medical School psychologist Richard Bromfield’s top-10 list  “How to Unspoil Your Children”:

COMMIT TO UNSPOILING. The surer your lead is, the quicker your children will follow.

CREATE A BRIBE-FREE HOME. Bribes work in the moment, but parents (and children) pay a high price for bribery in the long run.

BUY LESS FOR THE KIDS. It may sound obvious, but it’s both necessary and challenging.

BUY LESS FOR YOU TOO. Some parents roll their eyes at their children’s indulgence, even as they the parents spend much of their days buying, shopping …

TAKE PRIDE IN THE NEW YOU. Your children are obliged to protest and throw wrenches in your unspoiling efforts. But you know better than to surrender.

Read the full list here.

While thinking about the ways that parents spoil their kids, the phenomenon of “Helicopter Parenting” came to mind. The term refers to overprotective moms and dads who “swoop in” at a moments notice to protect their kids and prevent them from failing. Although they may think they are helping their kids, they can often be hindering them from learning how to fail. Similarly, parents who spoil their kids will have noble intentions, but may end up doing more harm than good in the long run.

Parents may want to give their children everything that they lacked growing up. That’s admirable, but if you go too far, it may make it even more difficult for your child to develop independence. In his article “A Dad Shaped Hole,” author H. Norman Wright notes that “My dad spoiled me, carried me in his arms or on his shoulders. He was kind, loving, indulgent, and oh so strong.” As great as that is, it can make it even more difficult if suddenly (like in Norman’s case) the child becomes separated from their father.

Do you think children are more spoiled now than before? Is that a problem? Do you think you spoil your own kids?

Related: Visit Family Life Canada for parenting help, relationship tips, and information about “A Weekend to Remember” marriage conferences occurring all around Canada.