Teaching children selflessness without losing boundaries

Teaching children selflessness without losing boundaries (Photo: iStock)

Imagine this: you finally buy your child a toy they’ve been asking for. Before they even get the chance to play with it, another child asks for a turn. Normally, your child is generous and quick to share, but this time, they hesitate. They clutch the toy and say, “I really want to play with it myself.”

In this moment, parents face a challenge. Giving is a value most would like to instil early, but so is self-respect. Teaching children selflessness without boundaries can turn into pressure, where a child feels obliged to sacrifice their needs for others. On the other hand, teaching only boundaries without compassion risks raising children who are unwilling to consider anyone else.