Giving in to a child’s demands is the path of least resistance. But doing so all the time can cause children to develop a behavior pattern characterized by demands for more and more stuff. According to some experts, “Television and advertising are stimulating kids; they are constantly being sold on the idea that things will buy them happiness.”
As we know that patience is not an innate virtue, young children must be taught the art of waiting for what they want. Because you are more experienced in knowing what’s best for your preschooler, you’re more qualified to control what he can do and what conditions must be met before he does it. Explain these conditions clearly. So provide a menu of activities which your child may choose or set up conditions that must be satisfied before your child gets his own way. And provide him with suggestions for activities he can do while he’s waiting for what he wants. Avoid making him feel that his desires will never be satisfied. At those times, try to offer alternative playthings to satisfy his wishes and foster a sense of compromise and flexibility. Constantly giving in only reinforces his impatient behavior and fails to teach him patience. So here’s what experts have to say in this regard.

Teach kids not to rely on TV, computers and toys:
If you’re like most parents, such a thought sends waves of panic through you. Without their dolls, action figures, videos, and electronic games, won’t your kids drive you crazy? Not if you engage them in meaningful activities. By creating schedule of chores, even four-year-olds can help clear breakfast dishes, water the plants and so on. Older children can make beds, work in the garden and sort laundry. It’s up to you, however to keep your child busy. Growing children have to figure out how to entertain themselves without expensive toys or adult help. If you restrict their time for TV, computers, they’ll eventually discover something to do that doesn’t require buying more things.

Don’t buy goodies for your kids every time you shop:
This is a practice often brought about by guilt, “Parents who work feel that because they are unavailable to their children so much of the day, they should somehow make it up to them.”Buying gifts habitually may make you feel generous, but your children may begin to feel entitled to treats and demand them all the time.

Explain that money is a consideration:
Make clear to your child right from the start that what you buy for him is a matter of heavy decision-making. Give him some idea of the financial thinking. Remind them that owning a lot of things is not crucial to happiness. Emphasize that some things are useless and not worth buying.

If you say no, keep your explanations simple:
When you say no to your child when he wants something, don’t give him any explanations. Such explanations sound civilized to adults, but to a child they are confusing and indefinite. It’s better to deliver a firm “no” and offer the simplest explanation you can think of like “They’re not good for you.” Such a flat rejection gives a child no reason to think that crying, yelling will get him anywhere at all.

Once you say no ,stick to it:
Letting a child have her own way after crying tells her she can get ahead by making other people’s life miserable. If you find yourself usually giving in, the primary reason is to avoid a scene, but keeping peace comes at a high price. Even if your child cries piteously and people think you’re heartless, stand by your decision.
Your job as a parent is to help your children decide what’s worth getting and then showing them the right way to go about it.