Teach Children to Delay Gratification
An easy way to teach children to delay gratification is the chore-play connection. Give young children a concrete task they can finish before they watch their favorite TV program. Keep the video game player put up until they show you their completed homework.
Elementary children have dramatically better skills in delaying gratification than they did in preschool. But, this skill is not internalized until adolescence. Kids need lots of practice opportunities during middle childhood to master this important psychological task.
Practice Saying 'No'
Make 'no' your first response to every request for a new toy or other material possession that costs money. Impulse buying is not a habit we want to pass on to our kids. You give that new toy more value when you make them earn it or save for it. At least, teach them to give each purchase some thinking time. That takes away the urgency of the desire and teaches thoughtful, not impulsive, buying.
It's also good to practice saying 'no' to most requests for special privileges or activities. You know the times, when your child puts on his sweetest 'mommy dear' voice to ask you for something he knows might require some parental manipulation to get. Just sweetly say 'no'.
