Psyched2Parent | Tiny Wins Tuesday | November 10, 2026

You walk into Target for four things. Before you've made it past the dollar section, your child has found something they absolutely NEED. Another squishy. More slime. One more toy. And you're thinking: You have so much stuff. Why do you always want MORE?

How do we raise grateful kids in a world that constantly encourages them to want more? In this episode of Psyched2Parent, licensed school psychologist and parent coach Dr. Amy Patenaude breaks down why children keep asking for things, what delayed gratification really means, and how to teach gratitude and responsibility without guilt or lectures.

• Your child wants something every time you go shopping.
• You're worn out by negotiations over toys, brands, and holiday wish lists.
• You've wondered, Am I giving my kids too much?
• You want to raise appreciative kids who can also handle hearing no.

• Why hearing "yes" once in a while can keep kids asking again and again.
• What the marshmallow experiment teaches us about waiting, trust, and self-control.
• How friends, trends, social media, and our own habits shape what kids expect.
• Why gratitude is more than saying thank you: notice, think, feel, and do.
• What classroom jobs can teach us about contribution and responsibility at home.

1. Practice the Pause: Make a wish list, try a 24-hour waiting rule, or say, "You can want it, and the answer can still be no."
2. Make the Invisible Visible: Help your child notice the everyday care and effort that often go unseen.
3. Give Them Something to Contribute: Choose one meaningful family responsibility that helps someone else.

Pick one. One is enough. The goal isn't to raise kids who never want things. It's to help them appreciate what they have, tolerate disappointment, and see what they have to offer.

Tiny Wins Playbook:
https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/tinywinsplaybook

ADHD, Anxiety, or Something Else?
https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/adhdanxietyorsomethingelse

After-School Reset Guide:
https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/afterschoolresetguide

Volcano Feelings Freebie:
https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/volcanomoments

Summer Without the Spiral:
https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/summerspiral

For practical parenting tips, school psychologist insights, and Tiny Wins you can try at home:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramypatenaude/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psyched2parent/
More episodes: https://psyched2parent.libsyn.com/

If this episode made you think differently about gratitude and entitlement, follow Psyched2Parent and share it with another parent who's staring down a holiday wish list.

I'm training for the 2027 Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge as a push athlete with the Kyle Pease Foundation, supporting inclusion and endurance-sport opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

Support my fundraiser:
https://kyle-pease-foundation-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/297130-amy-patenaude-s-fundraiser

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not individualized psychological, medical, or legal advice. Listening does not establish a provider-client relationship. Consult a qualified professional for concerns about your child.

#Psyched2Parent #ParentingTips #RaisingGratefulKids