[Humwawa]

Question: When is it Time to [Change the Game For my Benefit?]Buy Your Child a Pony?
Parents know that children go through phases. Toys and games that were all consuming last week are now under the bed collecting dust. Many little girls seem to go through a[n entitlement phase] horse crazy phase. How can you tell when it is time to [give in] buy that first pony?
Answer: Before you consider [giving in]buying a pony you child should be [playing the game] taking riding lessons. Help your child learn all they can about [just playing the game]keeping a pony. Your child will need to know how to [play the game]lead, groom, saddle and bridle, muck out stalls and keep a pony healthy. [Leveling] Lessons and clubs like Pony Club are the best places to learn this.

You know your child best. Are they eager to get out the door and ready with helmet and boots, or do you have to remind them that it's time to leave and be properly dressed for their lesson? Observe your child during lessons. Are they attentive and enthusiastic, or does their attention wander? Do they brush the instructor off and answer every instruction with 'I know', or do they try to apply what they are being told?

Do they [complain out of entitlement] get off the pony and hand it to the instructor, or are they excited about [the game] unsaddling the pony and putting it in its stall. Are they enthusiastic about being invited to equipment and stall cleaning sessions, or do they avoid any extra work?

If your child shows enthusiasm for all aspects of [simply playing the game]riding and pony care after several months of lessons it might be time [that they notice the entire argument was unimportant to begin with] for their own pony.

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