A recent study conducted by PolicyGenius aimed to explore how much parents would be willing to pay to stop their children from throwing tantrums, and the findings from the study are quite amusing.
Picture this scenario: you’re at a local store with your child, and they spot something they absolutely insist on having. When you say no, they start crying, screaming, and causing a scene that disrupts everyone around. You’re exhausted after a long day of work, have a pounding headache, and just want to go home and relax. Do you give in to their demands to make them stop? If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. Many parents would go to great lengths, including spending money, to silence their whining kids.
The survey conducted by PolicyGenius found that one out of every five parents would be willing to pay to avoid a tantrum. Among those parents, 44% stated that they would pay $500 or more just to avoid the ordeal. However, experts like psychologist Susan Newman caution against this approach. Newman explains that offering money to children to prevent a tantrum, especially significant amounts, amounts to bribery. This strategy doesn’t help children learn to regulate their emotions and can reinforce negative behavior patterns. Young children often test boundaries, and rewarding tantrums only encourages them to continue misbehaving. Why would they stop when they get everything they want by throwing a fit?
