How can I get my child to stop demanding expensive things like all of her friends?

Many of us live in affluent, abundant and materialistic communities. To deal with the reaction this brings, parents first should look at their own patterns of consumption. Children live what they learn. Opt to simplify your life and make the holidays less commercial. Give gifts of experience and time. Encourage your child to perform community service and give to charity.

Demanding behaviors are disrespectful and are handled best through what I call the "automatic no": Once badgering begins, all bets are off on that particular item for a good period of time. Giving in to demands rewards and intensifies the negative behaviors and invites constant and unpleasant conflict.